This French onion soup recipe will contest any you might have tried while dining at a restaurant. The recipe includes a cheesy baguette that is rich in taste. It’s a great meal to enjoy during the cold winter months.
French onion soup is one of my top comfort foods to eat. The caramelized onions play a massive role in providing a flavorful taste. After years of making various soups and conducting different soup variations, this French onion soup recipe is as good as any made with beef stock. This recipe is perfect for those vegetarians out there. Instead of beef stock, the recipe is made with vegetable broth.
I add white whine with aromatic thyme and garlic to this soup recipe. Lastly, we must remember a toasty baguette with melted cheese, bread, and soup go hand in hand.
Making The French Onion Soup
First, we must caramelize the onions
As mentioned above, the caramelized onions are a vital ingredient in the recipe as they give the onion soup its rich and sweet flavor. It’s optimal to cook the onions for a more extended period than you need to, roughly 1 hour. As a result, the onions should be soft and golden brown before moving on to the next step. If you prefer more browning, increase the heat to medium for the last 20 minutes.
Simmer The Soup
First, add garlic, thyme, tamari, and vinegar to the onions. Stir well and scrape the pan to release browned bits. After, stir in a few tablespoons of flour, as this will enable the soup to thicken while it cooks, then add the wine. Lastly, add the broth and simmer the onion soup uncovered for roughly 30 minutes.
Toast The Bread
Add grated cheese to the baguette or French bread, then bake them in an oven at 450 degrees. Continue to bake until the bread of your selection and cheese have melted. I enjoy using a melting cheese with a rich, nutty taste. I’m a fan of gruyere or aged white cheddar cheese for this recipe.
Eat The French Onion Soup
At Last, you can now eat the soup. When the bread is toasting, ladle the soup into a bowl, topping each one with a toasted slice of bread, add the thyme sprigs, and eat!
What Is French Onion Soup?
Most recipes for this soup are a combination of sweet caramelized onions, beef broth, and herbs. As a bonus, the soup usually comes with a piece of toasted bread and melted cheese on top. With every spoonful you take, your taste buds will enjoy a piece of bread that is soaked with flavorful broth, sweet onions, and melted cheese. It’s challenging to beat that!
No Shorts Cuts With The Caramelized Onions
It’s vital to the recipe that the onions are caramelized properly when making the soup. The flavor of the caramelized onion provides the soup with its incredible taste. Avoid taking shortcuts with the onions, as it will affect the taste, color, and texture of your soup.
What is the ideal cheese to use in French onion soup?
Traditional French onion soups are made with gruyere. However, as mentioned above, they can be made with other cheeses. Some recipes call for multiple cheeses. Other popular selections include mozzarella and fontina. No matter the piece of cheese, make sure to avoid skimp.
What Are The Best Onions?
Traditionally, this soup is made with thinly sliced yellow onions. If desired, you can make this yummy soup by applying red or white onions. In the end, it all comes down to flavor preferences.
How To Store Properly?
Transfer any leftovers into an airtight container after eating this soup. This recipe can last up to three or four days and is appropriately stored in the fridge.
How To Reheat The Soup?
To reheat the soup, you must bring it to a boil on the stove. Add more broiled bread and cheese if desired. However, a more accessible route might be by purchasing store-bought croutons for quick results.
How To Freeze The Soup?
First, allow the soup to cool, then transfer the soup to an airtight container. After placing the container into the freezer, the soup will last up to 3 months.
How do I thaw the soup?
When you are craving the soup, transfer it from the freezer to the fridge and let it defrost overnight. Are you in a rush? Submerge the sealed container in cool water to thaw more quickly.
French Onion Soup Ingredients
- Onions:You can choose from red, white, or yellow onions for the soup recipe. To make it the classical way, you will 3 yellow onions. First, peel the onion and thinly sliced.
- Flour: The flour will thicken the soup. I typically select all-purpose flour, though you are more than welcome to use gluten-free flour.
- White Wine:Use wine to deglaze the pan and lift the browned bits when caramelizing onions.
- Veggie Stock:To make the soup suitable for vegetarians.
- Salt, Fresh Thyme, and Garlic:It’s okay to mix it up around with the amounts of each. If you do not have any fresh thyme lying around, you may substitute it for dried thyme.
Possible Variations
- Try Croutons:Besides toasting slices of bread, you could save time using store-bought croutons.
- Used Dried Herbs:No worries if you do not have any fresh thyme on hand. You may substitute a teaspoon of dried thyme instead.
Serving Suggestions
This soup recipe is rich and flavorful. A small amount goes a long way. I enjoy serving the soup as a starter for holiday dinners. It is an ideal starter for the main meal, no matter what is on hand. I like to pair this soup with my fruit salad.
Soup Recipe Tips
Slice The Onions Thinly
French onion soup is the most pleasant when the onion slices almost melt into the hot broth. You will want to avoid substantial onion chunks for this recipe. I suggest using the drawer’s sharpest knife and slicing the onions into thin strips.
Toast Extra Baguette Slices
You could eat the soup on its own, but why not complement it with a crispy and cheesy baguette? I recommend toast an extra baguette, ensuring you have enough to enjoy with your bowl of soup. Try this French dip sandwich.
Make The Onions Nice And Brown
As mentioned, the soup obtains its rich flavor from the caramelized onions. That being said, allow the sautéing time of the onions; do not cut it short. Cook the onions over low heat for 40 minutes or until very soft. After turning the heat up, they will start to brown, and cook them for 20 minutes more. Your patience will surely be rewarded once you taste the soup.
Make The French Onion Soup Ahead Of Time
The soup’s flavor will continue to deepen as it remains in the fridge, making it an excellent recipe to make ahead. Start by cooking the soup from start to finish and place it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to enjoy your meal, confidently reheat your soup on the stove and perfectly toast your baguette slices in the oven. Any leftovers will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How To Make The French Onion Soup Ahead Of Time
Make the soup as directed and lade it into oven-proof bowls. Cover the bowls and place them in the fridge for up to 3 days. To serve the perfect French onion soup, confidently preheat your oven and place the soup inside for 15 minutes. Everyone’s going to love the dish because it’s going to be super yummy and fulfilling. Remove the soup from the oven, then top it with bread or baguette with grated cheese. Return to the oven and bake as directed.
French Onion Soup Recipe: Vegetarian Friendly
Travis Thomas
If you are craving French onion soup, there is no need to dine out when you can make one that is just as tasty! The broth is rich and flavorful, and the toasted baguette covered with melted cheese makes this recipe a masterpiece.
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons Of extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 Pounds Of medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3/4 Teaspoon Of sea salt
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon Of fresh thyme (leaves)
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Of tamari
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Of balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons Of all-purpose white flour
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Cup Of dry white wine
- 6 Cups Of vegetable broth
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
To begin, heat the oil in a sizable pot over medium heat. Simply add the perfect amount of salt, pepper, and onions, then cook for 40 minutes until the onions are luxuriously soft. Cook over medium heat for 15-20 mins, stirring often until golden brown. Add thyme, tamari, vinegar, and garlic; stir. Sprinkle flour over onions, stir, and cook for 2-3 minutes. After stir in the wine, cook for 2 minutes or until evaporated. Add in the broth and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes.
Before you get started, make sure you preheat your oven to 450°F. To avoid the bread from sticking, use parchment paper to line a baking sheet. Arrange the slices of the baguette on the lined baking sheet and add your preferred cheese on top. Bake the slices in the oven until they are toasted, and the cheese has melted, which should take approximately 10 minutes.
Ladle the soup into bowls and top each with a toasted baguette piece or fresh thyme.
Notes
Toppings
Fresh thyme
Baguette slices
gruyere cheese, parmesan cheese, and aged cheddar
