Description
This Easy French Onion Soup recipe offers a rich and comforting classic French dish made with caramelized onions, savory beef broth, toasted French bread, and melted Gruyère cheese. Perfect for a cozy meal, the soup combines deep onion flavors with a cheesy, crispy topping, all ready in just over an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 4 large onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Toppings
- 4-6 slices French bread, toasted
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, for 25–30 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized and golden brown, developing their rich sweet flavor.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the caramelized onions and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, ensuring the garlic does not burn.
- Add Flour: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the onion mixture and stir well to combine. Cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste and help thicken the soup.
- Simmer Soup: Gradually pour in the beef broth and the dry white wine if using, stirring constantly. Add the fresh or dried thyme, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook gently for 20 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Prepare for Broiling: Preheat your oven’s broiler. Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Place toasted French bread slices on top of each bowl and sprinkle the grated Gruyère cheese evenly over the bread.
- Broil and Serve: Place the bowls under the broiler for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned. Serve the soup immediately while hot and enjoy the gooey cheese and savory broth combination.
Notes
- Using dry white wine is optional but adds a nice depth of flavor to the soup.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable broth and ensure the cheese is vegetarian-friendly.
- Be careful while broiling to avoid burning the cheese; watch closely.
- To save time, you can use pre-sliced onions but caramelizing them properly is key to flavor.
- Leftover soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but broil bread and cheese fresh when serving again.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
