Description
French Onion Soup is a rich and comforting dish made with deeply caramelized onions, savory broth, and crispy bread topped with melted cheese. This classic soup is perfect for cozy, cold-weather meals and feels both rustic and elegant.
Ingredients
- 4 large yellow or sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
- 6 cups vegetable or beef broth
- 1 baguette, sliced and toasted
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese (or mozzarella/Swiss)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring often, until deeply golden and caramelized, about 30–40 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and thyme. Add flour if using, and cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Pour in broth and add the bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, then remove the bay leaf.
- While soup simmers, toast baguette slices until golden and crisp.
- Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each with a slice of toasted bread and a generous handful of shredded cheese.
- Place bowls under the broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Use a mix of onions for more complex flavor.
- Add a splash of balsamic vinegar for extra richness.
- Vegetable broth makes this soup vegetarian-friendly.
- For gluten-free, use GF bread and omit flour or use a GF alternative.
- If you don’t have oven-safe bowls, melt cheese on the toast separately and place it on top of the soup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
