Soup Thread

Post your soups

French Onion Soup
Prep Time: 15 min
Inactive Prep Time: 0 min
Cook Time: 1 hr 45 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 8 servings

5 sweet onions (like Vidalias) or a combination of sweet and red onions (about 4 pounds)
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups white wine
10 ounces canned beef consume
10 ounces chicken broth
10 ounces apple cider (unfiltered is best)
Bouquet garni; thyme sprigs, bay leaf and parsley tied together with kitchen string
1 loaf country style bread
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Splash of Cognac (optional)
1 cup Fontina or Gruyere cheese, grated


Trim the ends off each onion then halve lengthwise. Remove peel and finely slice into half moon shapes. Set electric skillet to 300 degrees and add butter. Once butter has melted add a layer of onions and sprinkle with a little salt. Repeat layering onions and salt until all onions are in the skillet. Do not try stirring until onions have sweated down for 15 to 20 minutes. After that, stir occasionally until onions are dark mahogany and reduced to approximately 2 cups. This should take 45 minutes to 1 hour. Do not worry about burning.
Add enough wine to cover the onions and turn heat to high, reducing the wine to a syrup consistency. Add consume, chicken broth, apple cider and bouquet garni. Reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
Place oven rack in top 1/3 of oven and heat broiler.
Cut country bread in rounds large enough to fit mouth of oven safe soup crocks. Place the slices on a baking sheet and place under broiler for 1 minute.
Season soup mixture with salt, pepper and cognac. Remove bouquet garni and ladle soup into crocks leaving one inch to the lip. Place bread round, toasted side down, on top of soup and top with grated cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly and golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

 

Thanks Chip.

Do you think if I use 20oz's of water in place of the beef and chicken stock, it would be ok?

 

No

 

How about instead of water use Vegetable stock instead of the Chicken or Beef?

 

that's a damn good recipe.

 

It might be OK, but wouldn't taste anything like French Onion Soup.

 

No, but if you want to try and be a vegetarian then it’s an option. I used to be one until I got pregnant with my first one and then I had to have cheeseburgers.

 

would be better (better flavor than water) but still not have the same hearty taste.


chip, you ever make the beer stew? it's a few lbs of onions, couple bottles of dark beer and beef cubes ect... hungarian beef stew i think.

it is f'ing good!

 

Good idea! Thank you!

 

Not sure but I've had beer cheese soup which is a variation of French Onion made with a stout. I didn't make it though.