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Best Easy Classic French Onion Soup

Close-up of a bowl of rich french onion soup recipe topped with melted, browned cheese over a crouton.
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Make a rich and comforting French Onion Soup featuring deeply caramelized onions and a bubbly Gruyère cheese topping.

Ingredients

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  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 pounds yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry sherry or dry white wine
  • 8 cups high-quality beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 baguette, sliced 1 inch thick
  • 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, sugar, salt, and pepper.
  2. Cook the onions slowly, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 60 minutes. Keep the heat low enough so the onions soften and turn deep brown without burning. This slow cooking develops the deep flavor.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir for 1 minute.
  5. Pour in the sherry or wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it cook until the liquid is almost completely evaporated.
  6. Add the beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and cook for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove the bay leaf.
  7. Preheat your broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them lightly under the broiler until golden brown on both sides.
  8. Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Place one or two toasted baguette slices on top of the soup in each bowl.
  9. Generously cover the bread with grated Gruyère cheese.
  10. Place the bowls on a sturdy baking sheet and broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching carefully, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For the deepest flavor, do not rush the onion caramelization step; low and slow is key.
  • If you do not have beef broth, use a rich vegetable broth for a vegetarian version.
  • Gruyère is traditional, but Swiss cheese or Provolone can substitute for the topping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/french-onion-soup-recipe-best-easy-classic/