Pages

Sunday, November 14, 2010

French Onion Soup

Oniony Goodness


Onions and garlic both have great medicinal properties. What better way to enjoy them coming into colds and flu season, than in a rich and dark french onion soup and topped with melty guyere - in case you were feeling too virtuous!  

A big thanks again to Des Moriarty for the lovely photos

Serves 4
About 8 medium size onions
4 cloves garlic
1 tsp sugar
½ pint white wine
1 pint beef stock
1 tsp worcester sauce
1 small baguette 
Grated Guyere cheese or cheddar or conte

Peel the onions and chop them in half from root to stem. Then slice them thinly into semi-circles. Finely chop the garlic. Melt some butter and olive oil in a large pot and fry the onions and garlic with the sugar until everything has started to caramelise and turn a nice brown colour about 15 minutes.

Add the wine and stock and simmer for about 40 mins on a low heat. Add Worcester sauce, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. When done, cut the baguette into slices, 2 or 3 per person and flash them quickly under the grill to toast on both sides. Grate the cheese. Ladle the hot soup into flameproof bowls and float the toast on top of the soup. Top the toast with the grated cheese and place under the hot grill until the cheese is melter and a bit bubbly. Serve with plenty of black pepper.


5 comments:

French Gourmet Food said...

Perfect recipe, it's not just making me hungry, it reminds me of home too!
You're absolutely right in using Gruyere, it tastes so good when it's gratinated!

10/10, tres bien! from a French gourmet! ;-)

Medifast said...

We have an onion soup cook off once a year in my family over the Christmas season. Really it is kind of silly but that is how traditions sometimes go. My brother always wins, and I always keep trying new recipes to try and beat him. Well I am going to try yours, fingers crossed.

Lu said...

French Gourmet - Merci! Great to have the seal of approval en Francais. My brother lives in Chamonix in the Alps and promises me a cheese tour of the area soon!

Medifast - I love weird family traditions, I'd be delighted if you tried this out in competition with your brother - I'd love to know how you get on. Sibling rivalry is like no other, be great to beet him this once! Let me know

AEPHILEA said...

Finally! A manageable recipe for delicious French onion soup! I've always wanted to make it, but have always been deterred by complicated huge recipes. Do you have any suggestions for the white wine?

Lu said...

Hi Aephilea - sorry for the late reply! Thanks for the nice compliment - it really is very easy and wonderfully delicious. I would use any kind of dry white wine really - a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. If I had a nice Muscadet I would save that for drinking!