FoodDiscover French onion soup: from humble soup of the poor to gastronomic delight

Discover French onion soup: from humble soup of the poor to gastronomic delight

Onion soup enjoys immense popularity.
Onion soup enjoys immense popularity.
Images source: © Adobe Stock | maria_lapina

4:08 PM EST, January 1, 2024

Having read my articles, you might have noticed that I love to experiment in my kitchen. This involves testing out entirely new flavors and exploring diverse cuisines from around the globe, which are replete with cyclopean culinary delights.

We're not changing the routine today. In a moment, I will share a recipe for a truly delightful French cuisine staple. Even better, all you need to work with are fundamental ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Hence, nothing prevents this tasty dish from appearing on your dining table today. This is going to be a veritable symphony of flavors!

From humble beginnings to a revered delicacy

There is no need for suspense after such a riveting introduction. I'm delighted to unveil our culinary star for today - French Onion Soup. As stated earlier, this soup has its roots in French cuisine, and no one can deny the French's flair for cooking.

An interesting fact about the delectable French onion soup is its humble beginnings. Regrettably, it wasn’t always associated with fine dining. It was initially an essential meal for the underprivileged due to its economical preparation cost. However, in today's world, French onion soup enjoys a drastically different reputation. It's now an exquisite dish you can savor in the finest restaurants.

Mastering the classic French onion soup

Ingredients:

Preparing onion soup is very simple.
Preparing onion soup is very simple.© Adobe Stock | Elena Schweitzer
  • 4 large onions,
  • ~ 4.23 cups of homemade broth,
  • ~ 3 ounces of white wine (optional),
  • 2 tablespoons of butter,
  • 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil,
  • Baguette slices for toast,
  • ~ 3.5 ounces of yellow cheese,
  • Seasonings: salt, pepper, thyme.

Method:

  1. Start by preparing the onions. First, peel them and then cut them into strips.
  2. Place a pot on your stove. The first ingredients to go in should be the butter and olive oil.
  3. Add the previously sliced onions to the pot and sauté them for about 25 minutes until they become perfectly soft and browned.
  4. If you're using wine in the recipe, now is the time to add it to the pot, followed by the homemade broth. Note that you can use either vegetable or meat broth.
  5. The last ingredients to go in should be your seasonings. Let this concoction simmer for about 20 minutes.
  6. In the meantime, toast the baguette slices and grate the yellow cheese.
  7. When the soup is ready, ladle it into oven-safe bowls. After adding a layer of toast and a generous layer of cheese to each bowl, consider baking them to make the cheese beautifully melted and brown. Bon Appétit!