French onion soup is a classic French dish known for its rich, savory flavor. It consists of caramelized onions slowly cooked in a beef broth, and enhanced with wine and dry sherry. The soup is topped with a slice of toasted baguette and generously covered with melted Gruyère or Comté cheese. It is then broiled until the cheese is golden and bubbly, creating a deliciously comforting dish with a perfect balance of sweetness from the onions and deep umami flavors from the broth. Served hot, it's a timeless favorite, that can be enjoyed year-round!
French onion soup is a classic French dish known for its rich, savory flavor. It consists of caramelized onions slowly cooked in a beef broth, and enhanced with wine and dry sherry. The soup is topped with a slice of toasted baguette and generously covered with melted Gruyère or Comté cheese.
In a dutch oven or heavy stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and half of the kosher salt, stir and cover, letting onions soften for about 5 minutes.
Remove lid and begin cooking onions, stirring occasionally as they reduce.
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onions caramelize. Adjust heat if onions are browning too quickly or burning to the bottom of the pot. Plan on at least an hour to reach caramelization, my last batch took nearly an hour-and-a-half. (It takes time, but it's worth it!)
While the onions are caramelizing, heat the beef broth in a separate saucepan.
Once the onions are caramelized, add the wine and sherry to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil while deglazing the pot and scraping all the brown bits from the bottom and sides.
Once the wine mixture has reduced slightly, add the flour, stir, and let thicken for a few minutes.
Slowly add the warmed beef broth, the remaining salt, and the black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Heat the broiler, and arrange the individual ovenproof crocks on a baking sheet. Ladle soup into soup crocks, top each with a thick slice of the french bread, top with Gruyere cheese. Broil for a minute or two, keeping a close eye, until cheese melts and browns slightly if desired. Serve immediately.
Servings 4
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
