Rich French Onion Soup (Printable)
Caramelized onions in savory broth with melted Gruyère and crusty bread topping
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2.2 lbs yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Fats & Oils
03 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
→ Liquids
05 - 1 cup dry white wine
06 - 5 cups beef or vegetable broth, low sodium preferred
07 - 1 tbsp brandy or cognac
08 - 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or ½ tsp dried thyme
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 - Pinch of sugar
→ Bread & Cheese
13 - 4 thick slices French baguette or country bread
14 - 7 oz Gruyère cheese, grated
15 - 1.7 oz Emmental or Swiss cheese, grated
# Steps:
01 - Melt butter with olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add sliced onions and pinch of sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, for 30–40 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized. Reduce heat if onions begin to burn.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in white wine and scrape bottom of pot to release browned bits. Simmer until wine is mostly evaporated, about 3–4 minutes.
04 - Add broth, thyme, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, and brandy if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25–30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf before serving.
05 - Preheat oven broiler. Arrange bread slices on baking sheet and toast under broiler until golden on both sides.
06 - Ladle hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with toasted bread slice and generous mound of grated cheese. Place bowls on baking tray and broil until cheese is bubbling and lightly browned, 2–4 minutes. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Turns humble onions into something extraordinary with just time and attention
- The cheese crust creates the kind of comfort that fixes even the worst day
02 -
- Rushing the onion caramelization is the biggest mistake you can make, so give yourself at least 30 minutes and don't turn up the heat to speed things up
- Oven safe bowls are essential because the broiler step transforms this from soup into something extraordinary
03 -
- Add a splash of cream to the finished soup if you want extra richness
- A pinch of sugar helps the onions caramelize more evenly, especially if they're not super sweet to start