Caramelizing the Onions

Heat the Oil and Butter:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until melted.
Add the Onions:
Add the thinly sliced onions to the pot and stir to coat them in the oil and butter.
Caramelize the Onions:
Cook the onions, stirring frequently, for about 30-40 minutes, until they are soft, golden brown, and caramelized.
After about 15 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of sugar to help the onions caramelize and become sweet. Be patient with this step as it’s essential to the soup’s flavor.
Add Garlic:
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Building the Soup

Add the Flour:
Sprinkle the flour over the caramelized onions and stir to combine. Cook for about 2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. This will help thicken the soup slightly.
Deglaze with Wine (Optional):
Add the white wine to the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let the wine simmer for 2-3 minutes until mostly evaporated.
Add Broth and Herbs:
Pour in the beef broth, add the bay leaf and thyme, and bring the soup to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes to develop the flavors.
Season:
Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Preparing the Topping

Toast the Baguette:
While the soup simmers, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 5-7 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Add Cheese:
Remove the baguette slices from the oven and top them with a generous amount of grated Gruyère cheese (and Parmesan if using).

Assembling the Soup

Broil the Topping:
Set your oven to broil. Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls, place a toasted baguette slice on top of each, and sprinkle with additional Gruyère cheese.
Melt the Cheese:
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.

Serving

Garnish and Serve:
Serve the French Onion Soup hot, garnished with fresh thyme or a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired. Be careful when serving as the bowls will be hot from the broiler.
Enjoy: Break through the cheesy, crispy top to enjoy the savory, sweet, and richly flavored soup beneath.

Tips for Success

Onions: Be patient when caramelizing the onions. They need to cook slowly to release their natural sugars, which gives the soup its signature sweetness.
Broth: Homemade beef broth or a high-quality low-sodium beef broth works best for deep flavor.
Cheese: Gruyère is the traditional choice for this dish, but Swiss or even a sharp white cheddar can work as a substitute.

Conclusion

French Onion Soup is the ultimate comfort dish that combines caramelized onions, rich broth, crispy baguette, and melted cheese. Whether you’re serving it as an appetizer or a main course, this dish is sure to impress with its depth of flavor and cozy warmth.

This recipe provides all the steps to create a French Onion Soup that’s every bit as delicious as the ones served in French bistros. Enjoy this cozy classic with your loved ones!

Caramelizing the Onions

Heat the Oil and Butter:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until melted.
Add the Onions:
Add the thinly sliced onions to the pot and stir to coat them in the oil and butter.
Caramelize the Onions:
Cook the onions, stirring frequently, for about 30-40 minutes, until they are soft, golden brown, and caramelized.
After about 15 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of sugar to help the onions caramelize and become sweet. Be patient with this step as it’s essential to the soup’s flavor.
Add Garlic:
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Building the Soup

Add the Flour:
Sprinkle the flour over the caramelized onions and stir to combine. Cook for about 2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. This will help thicken the soup slightly.
Deglaze with Wine (Optional):
Add the white wine to the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let the wine simmer for 2-3 minutes until mostly evaporated.
Add Broth and Herbs:
Pour in the beef broth, add the bay leaf and thyme, and bring the soup to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes to develop the flavors.
Season:
Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Preparing the Topping

Toast the Baguette:
While the soup simmers, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 5-7 minutes, until golden and crisp.
Add Cheese:
Remove the baguette slices from the oven and top them with a generous amount of grated Gruyère cheese (and Parmesan if using).

Assembling the Soup

Broil the Topping:
Set your oven to broil. Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls, place a toasted baguette slice on top of each, and sprinkle with additional Gruyère cheese.
Melt the Cheese:
Place the bowls on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.

Serving

Garnish and Serve:
Serve the French Onion Soup hot, garnished with fresh thyme or a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired. Be careful when serving as the bowls will be hot from the broiler.
Enjoy: Break through the cheesy, crispy top to enjoy the savory, sweet, and richly flavored soup beneath.

Tips for Success

Onions: Be patient when caramelizing the onions. They need to cook slowly to release their natural sugars, which gives the soup its signature sweetness.
Broth: Homemade beef broth or a high-quality low-sodium beef broth works best for deep flavor.
Cheese: Gruyère is the traditional choice for this dish, but Swiss or even a sharp white cheddar can work as a substitute.

Conclusion

French Onion Soup is the ultimate comfort dish that combines caramelized onions, rich broth, crispy baguette, and melted cheese. Whether you’re serving it as an appetizer or a main course, this dish is sure to impress with its depth of flavor and cozy warmth.

This recipe provides all the steps to create a French Onion Soup that’s every bit as delicious as the ones served in French bistros. Enjoy this cozy classic with your loved ones!