If you're anything like me, you’re always short on time – but long on flavor. That means this French onion soup recipe is perfect for you.
This easy French onion soup recipeis so rich and delicious, you'll never believe how simple it is to make. Here's your short shopping list: butter, olive oil, onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme sprigs, flour, beef broth, baguette slices and Gruyere cheese. The red wine and parsley are optional. The garlic cheese-toasted baguettes make this soup absolutely crave-worthy.
This onion soup recipe one of my family's favorite meals for lunch or dinner, and I hope it will become one of your family faves, too.
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Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoonsolive oil
- 4 large onions, sliced thin
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2bay leaves
- 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 cup red wine, about 1/2 bottle (optional)
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 quartsbeef broth
- 1 sweet baguette, sliced in 1-inch diagonal slices
- 1/2 pound grated Gruyere (or your favorite Swiss cheese)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine for garnish (optional)
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Recipe Notes
- The red wine and parsley are optional, but add richness and depth of flavor.
- Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a saucepot.
- This soup freezes well – you may want to have some in reserve for a rainy (or snowy) day!
Here's how you make it:
- In a stock pot over medium heat, melt the butter and oil. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are deep brown and caramelized, 10 to15 minutes.
- Add the wine (if using) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes. Remove the herbs.
- Dust the onions with the flour andstir. Reduce heat to medium low so the flour doesn’t burn and cook about 5 minutes. Add the beef broth slowly while stirring to avoid lumping. Return soup to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Toast sliced baguettes until nicely brown. Rub each piece of toasted baguette with fresh cut garlic. Set aside.
- When ready to serve, preheat the oven to broil. Place the soup bowls in a roasting pan and ladle the soup into bowls. Top each bowl with 2 slices of bread and then a handful of grated Gruyere. Sprinkle fresh parsley on top, if desired.Place in the oven to toast the bread and melt the cheese. Serve.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories: 402
Total Fat: 18.9g
Saturated Fat: 9.7g
Cholesterol: 46mg
Sodium: 1241mg
Total Carbohydrate: 41g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Total Sugars: 3.3g
Protein: 17.5g
Vitamin D: 0mcg
Calcium: 334mg
Iron: 2mg
Potassium: 276mg
Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.
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FAQs
A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.
Is French onion soup for poor people? ›
Although onions were plentiful and affordable by the poor, a medieval recipe in Le Ménagier de Paris, published in 1393, includes among its ingredients ginger and saffron – rare and expensive spices – making this version of the dish one for wealthy households.
How do you thicken French onion soup? ›
If you want to thicken your French onion soup, you can add a bit of flour. Combine a couple of tablespoons of flour with a teaspoon of salt and whisk in about a quarter cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until thickened.
What is a substitute for vermouth in French onion soup? ›
You can substitute sweet vermouth with sherry (not sherry cooking wine) or brandy. Lillet Blanc is similar to dry white wine but more aromatic. Your favorite dry white wine is fine.
How do you make soup taste richer? ›
Go Bold. A punch of flavor at the end of cooking can make your soup a standout. Mix herbs like parsley, thyme, and oregano, or spices such as cumin, coriander, and cardamom, into some olive oil, and let it infuse for at least an hour or two. Pour it over soup just before serving.
How do you make soup taste stronger? ›
Use fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or broth, and fresh herbs to add depth of flavor. Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex.
What's the difference between French onion soup and onion soup? ›
What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.
What does onion soup do to your body? ›
As part of the Allium family, along with leeks, shallots, garlic and chives, onions have long been associated with numerous medicinal benefits. They are a very good source of vitamin C and B6, iron, folate, and potassium and are known to provide cold and flu relief with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Do they actually eat French onion soup in France? ›
It has even become a trendy dish that tourists are eager to try to experience French gastronomy. However, onion soup is in fact not part of French people's daily meals. It was originally meant to be eaten after a family reunion in the middle of the night to cure hangovers…
Why do you put flour in French onion soup? ›
Flour: a little all-purpose flour will help to thicken the soup. You can feel free to use gluten-free flour. Dry white wine: this helps to deglaze the pan and add a boost of flavor.
Whisking beurre manié (butter-flour paste) into simmering soup is the best way to thicken an otherwise too-watery soup. Add bits of the paste gradually and simmer to cook out any raw flour taste. The broth will be velvety smooth, rich, and thick.
What liquor is added to French onion soup? ›
Myriad forms of booze can be incorporated into your favorite French onion soup recipe — from white wine, to sherry, to stouts — but brandy, with its full-bodied, slightly sweet flavor, truly takes the dish's flavors to the next level.
What is a good substitute for cheese in French onion soup? ›
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Cheese: To me, there is no better cheese in a French onion soup than Gruyere! However, shredded Swiss or provolone also works very well. Just be sure to find something that is easily shredded or grated, as that's what will give you that amazing gooey, melty cheese we all love.
What can I use instead of dry sherry in French onion soup? ›
Substitutions for Cooking Sherry
- Dry Vermouth. Griffin says dry vermouth is the best direct substitute for cooking sherry because it mimics the flavor of sherry better than other options without the need for extra salt. ...
- Dry White Wine. ...
- Chicken Stock and Lemon. ...
- Dry Marsala. ...
- Dry Madeira.
Infusing the soup with a richer taste is as easy as quickly sauteing crushed garlic before pouring the soup in. Some soft, buttery garlic sauteed in earthy olive oil is the perfect addition to enrich canned French onion soup.
What spices add depth to soup? ›
Herbs and sources add flavor, aroma, and intensity to the soup broth. You can pick fresh or dried herbs like basil for tomato-based soups or fresh parsley for clear broths. You may also add more spices like turmeric, ground ginger, ground paprika, or nutmeg for a touch of spice and color to your soup broth.
