Here’s a classic, rich, and comforting French Onion Soup recipe you can make at home:
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp sugar (helps caramelize onions)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups beef broth (or a mix of beef and chicken broth)
- ½ cup dry white wine or sherry (optional, adds depth)
- Baguette slices, toasted
- 1–2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (or Swiss cheese)
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions:
- In a large pot, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onions, sugar, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 25–35 minutes until onions are deep golden brown and caramelized.
- Add Garlic and Herbs:
- Add minced garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Deglaze Pan:
- Pour in the wine (if using) and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add Broth:
- Add beef broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 20–25 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Prepare Bread and Cheese:
- While soup simmers, toast baguette slices until lightly golden.
- Serve:
- Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls, top with toasted baguette slices, then sprinkle generously with grated Gruyère.
- Broil in the oven for 2–3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Enjoy:
Serve immediately, steaming and cheesy, with a little extra black pepper on top if desired.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version that’s faster but still has that deep caramelized flavor, perfect for weeknights. Do you want that?
