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Authentic French Onion Soup

Close-up of a bowl of French onion soup topped with toasted bread and melted, bubbly cheese.
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A classic French onion soup recipe featuring deeply caramelized onions, a rich beef broth, and a cheesy toasted bread topping.

Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 pounds yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry sherry or dry white wine (optional)
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 4 (1-inch thick) slices baguette
  • 1 clove garlic, halved
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Instructions

  1. Melt butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are deeply caramelized, about 45-60 minutes. Do not rush this process.
  2. If using, add sherry or white wine and cook until evaporated, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  3. Add beef broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprig.
  4. Preheat your broiler.
  5. Toast baguette slices on a baking sheet until golden brown on both sides. Rub one side of each toast with the cut side of the garlic clove.
  6. Ladle soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each bowl with a garlic-rubbed baguette slice.
  7. Generously sprinkle Gruyère and Swiss cheese over the bread.
  8. Carefully place bowls on a baking sheet and broil for 2-4 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and lightly browned. Watch closely to prevent burning.
  9. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For a deeper onion flavor, you can caramelize the onions ahead of time and refrigerate them.
  • If you don’t have oven-safe bowls, you can broil the cheese-topped bread slices separately and float them on top of the soup just before serving.
  • For a wine-free version, simply omit the sherry or white wine. The soup will still be flavorful.
  • Ensure your broiler is functioning correctly and adjust rack position as needed to achieve desired browning without burning.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipestokeep.com/french-onion-soup-recipe/