One of the things I enjoy most on a cold day is soup and French Onion Soup is one of the many fav’s for dinner. However as much as I’d like to eat it daily I certainly have to stop myself because although it’s not hugely caloric it certainly can be with my guilty pleasure of cheese.
Preparation time: 15 minutes (I use the food processor or mandolin for ease and speed)
Also I make my soup in bulk and freeze it; hence more then the required ingredients in the photo below. I freeze it just as the onion soup, prior to the oven process.
Cooking time: 55 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 tsp olive oil or 2 tbsp butter
- 4 lg yellow onions (sliced thin)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 2 dashes thyme
- 4 cups water
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic
- Dash pepper
- 1 cup Vegetable or beef broth broth
- 1/8 tsp Nutmeg
- Flour (optional)
- Swiss or mozzarella cheese (shred it you’ll use less 😉 )
- Croutons or rusk
- Parmesan cheese
Directions:
1) In a large pot (dutch oven) heat the oil over medium heat; add onions, 1 tbsp water and thyme. Cover and cook about 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
2) Uncover and reduce to medium-low and cook until onions are golden brown.
3) Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes. (Here’s where the flour comes in if you so choose; I no longer add it and it turns out fine.) Add the flour and cook on medium heat stirring for 2 minutes.
4) Stir in the broth, nutmeg, pepper, soy, water and dry mustard. Bring to a boil and if you have have used the flour you’ll need to skim off the foam that will surface.
5) Reduce the heat to low and cover to simmer for about 30 minutes.
6) Preheat the oven/broiler.
7) On a baking sheet place 4 cooking proof bowls and spoon soup into bowls
8) Place croutons, rusk or toast on top and grate or lay Mozza or Swiss cheese on top , finishing off with Parmesan.
9) Broil until thee cheese bubbles and browns. (Needless to say you don’t require a lid, I had mine out in the picture…sorry 😉 )
Cooking tips:
* Homemade croutons – saute cubed bread (French bread works great!) in butter for about 10minutes and then toast them at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until golden and crisp.
* Caramelize Onion: Cook them slowly in oil until golden and this brings out the fullest onion taste.
Let me know how you make out and enjoy!!