Soups on! I don’t need to tell you how much I love soup. I’ve done that plenty of times before, but I can’t tell you how much I love French Onion Soup!
This may come as a shock, but as a kid I was a picky eater. There was always one guaranteed item on a restaurant menu that would make me happy – yup you guessed it, French Onion Soup! I loved picking the crispy, partially burnt cheese off the side of the crock, and would slurp up the broth and the onions and leave most of the cheese for the end.
When I was twelve my parents took me to Switzerland to visit family and of course this soup got me through that trip! I did manage to put on a brave face and eat squab at a special meal my parents and uncle had arranged for us. Hey, one might say my foodie tendencies started on that trip without me realizing it.
To this day, I’m still picky but in a different way. My pickiness has to do with preparation more than the actual choice of food placed in front of me. I still love my French onion soup, but I’m always disappointed when it ends up being a gigantic salt bomb. I know your nodding your head along, you’ve experienced this too, correct?
I took a different approach making this soup, I let the onions slowly cook for a very long time. They are so incredibly sweet and tender and the salt from the gruyere on top provides the perfect balance. While I could have raised the heat a little more to get a deeper, more brown color, I didn’t want to risk charring any of the onions and imparting a bitter taste. If you like a deeper, more caramelized flavor, go ahead and raise the heat while you cook.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2 quarts (8 cups) low-sodium beef stock
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon cognac or brandy (optional)
- To finish: 1 baguette sliced into 1 1/2 inch pieces, toasted and shredded gruyere cheese
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Add your onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, stirring frequently about 10-15 minutes.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Let cook for 45 minutes, occasionally stirring the onions.
- After the 45 minutes, return the heat back to medium and cook the onions for another 15 minutes until they turn a light golden brown.
- Add the wine, beef stock, salt, pepper and dried thyme and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Right before serving stir in the tablespoon of cognac or brandy if using.
- Using broiler safe bowls, ladle the soup about 3/4 of the way and place 1-2 pieces of toasted baguette and cover the top with shredded gruyere.
- Broil for 1-2 minutes, until completely melted and it begins to just brown.
- Remove and let sit for a few minutes before serving.
Since we have a few more weeks of winter remaining you’ll need more soup recipes to keep you going!
-
Do The Chicken Dance (chicken {or other poultry} soups)
- Chicken Tortellini & White Bean Soup at Flour On My Face
- Chicken Gnocchi at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Chicken Cheese Soup by There and Back Again
- Chicken Tortellini Soup by Country Girl In The Village
- Chicken Soup with Leeks, Onions and Fennel by Shockingly Delicious
- Family Style Tablescape featuring Chicken Tortilla Soup by An Appealing Plan
- Yucatan Chicken Lime Soup (Sopa de Lima) by The Weekend Gourmet
- Chicken Meatball, Spinach and Orzo Soup from Gourmet Drizzles
- Ground Turkey and Vegetable Soup at The Messy Baker
- Cheesy Chipotle Chicken Sausage Chowder by Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Chick-Fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup by Family Foodie
- Chicken Vegetable Noodle Soup at Cupcakes and Pearls
- Healthy Bean and Sausage Soup by Momma’s Meals
Where’s The Beef (Beef Soups)
- Chili with Black Beans by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Vegetable and Beef Soup by Supper For a Steal
- Swabian Beef Spaetzle +1 Soup (Gaisburger Marsch) at Galactosemia in PDX
- Bacon Cheeseburger Soup by Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Beef Pho Soup by No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
- Frijol con Carne by MarocMama
- Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef and Noodle Soup) by Neighborfood
Pass The Pork. Please (Pork or Sausage Soups)
- Smoked Sausage and Wild Rice Soup at Mama, Mommy, Mom
- Louisiana Caldo by Catholic Foodie
- Sweet potato and Spanish chorizo soup at My Cute Bride
- Soft Tofu Soup (Soondubu Jjigae) by Hip Foodie Mom
Under The Sea (Seafood Soups)
- Shrimp Miso Noodle Soup at Pescetarian Journal
- Szechuan Fish Soup by The Urban Mrs.
- New England Clam Chowder at Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Hearty Okra Shrimp Gumbo Laced with Coconut Oil by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Bacon and Shrimp Bisque at Big Bear’s Wife
- Lobster Bisque by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Chinese Fish Maw Soup by My Trials in The Kitchen
- Thai Curry Coconut Mussel Soup by Noshing With The Nolands
Eat Your Veggies (Chock Full o’ Vegetables Soups)
-
- Not-So-Mini-Strone at The Foodie Army Wife
- French Onion Soup by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Spicy Sweet Potato and Corn Soup at Magnolia Days
- Creamy Cheddar Potato Soup at Daily Dish Recipes
- Rather French Onion Soup by What Smells So Good?
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
- Cream of Ancho Chile Soup from La Cocina de Leslie
- Pasta e Fagoli Soup at Cravings of a Lunatic
- Miso Soup by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Vegetable Consommé with Semolina Dumplings – Grießknödel at Masala Herb
- Vegetable Medley Soup with Broccoli and Leeks at Chattering Kitchen
- Smoky Kale and Tomato Soup with Garlic Croutons by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Coconut Corn Chowder at Mangoes and Chutney
- Make Your Own (Gluten Free) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup at The Meltaways
- Ital Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup at The Lovely Pantry
- Chunky Vegetable and Barley Soup at Curious Cuisiniere
- Corn Soup with Crispy Tortilla Strips at Ninja Baking
- Jalapeno Beer Cheese Soup by The Hand That Rocks The Ladle
- Wild Mushroom Soup at Food Lust People Love
- Creamy Carrot Soup at Cookistry
- Vermicelli Soup by Damn Delicious
- Country Split Pea Soup with Bacon and Potatoes at girlichef
Some Don’t Like It Hot (Chilled Soups)
-
- Chilled Strawberry Soup at Juanita’s Cocina
- Bread and Tomato Soup – Gazpacho Style at Vintage Kitchen Notes
Of course once you have seen all of the recipes for the day, you’ll not want to miss our #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday.
We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. This week we will be sharing out special soup recipes!
Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun.
Follow the#SundaySupper hash tag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.
Don’t forget to check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Join us Around the Family Table this Sunday at 7pm Eastern Time and share your favorite soup, stew, chowder or bisque recipes with us!
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I very much appreciate your thoughtful approach to cooking and French Onion Soup. (Your description of the cheese crust on the bowl makes me hungry!) Love all of the thoughtful ingredients you’ve listed. Your soup can only spell success!
P.s. How great that you got to visit Switzerland, Susan. I too have happy memories of snowball fighting with my sister in July in Zurich =) And can relate to preferring French Onion over squab and other “interesting” dishes.
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My favorite soup in the world! Low and slow baby…it works!
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One of my favorite foods to make and eat! I like a little of brandy/cognac to give it an extra kick. Beautiful photos….your soup looks perfect!
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I adore your little red crocks and your slow-cooked onion soup looks delicious with the toasted baguette and the melty Gruyère. Yum!
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I totally had the same French onion eating technique as a kid!
I never liked French Onion Soup until I was older but I LOVE it now and had no idea what I was missing! Love the slip of the Cognac in there!!
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Mmmm this soup sounds so incredible-I love how you cooked the onions!
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Looks wonderful!! I love French Onion Soup!!
Oh I love soup…even on the hottest days. This is one of my favorites. Great photos.
I agree that the secret is to have the onions cook for a long, long time. It really is the most amazing vegetable. And I think that was very brave of you to try squab when you were 12. Good for you! Love your soup!
My husbands favorite soup, yours looks absolutely delicious!
Onion soup is one of my all time favorites, pure comfort in a bowl. This is a nic recipe, I think the one I usually use is just a tad more generous with wine 🙂
I’ll have to try this but I need oven-safe bowls!
Who doesn’t like french onion soup?! Gosh I could eat a whole recipe of it. I only have one oven safe bowl though so I never make it. I have been scouring thrift stores for some small crocks, but I can’t find any. Might have to just shell out the dough for some new ones.
Oh, I LOVE French onion soup…especially those cheesy toasts!!! YUM!!!!
I didn´t like tomato sauce or parmesan cheese when I was growing up. How great that you like this soup since you were young. I agree about the salt, but it looks fantastic Susan! Thyme and cognac are the way to go.
I’ve never made French Onion Soup myself, but I always admire people who do. Great looking soup!
French onion is one of my very favorites. Your version looks wonderful. Do you have an extra spoon? It will only take me a few hours by train to get there 🙂
This is my little brother’s favorite kind of soup! He’s coming home next weekend for Spring Break and would die if I made this for him 🙂 I’m sure he’s craving anything not pizza or french fries haha
I am also a huge fan of French Onion soup. It is just so, so good 🙂
Yay! Another onion soupie!
your soup looks sooooo wonderfully delicious! ugh, i hate when french onion soup is too salty! this sounds perfect 🙂
I can very much relate to being picky as a kid. French Onion Soup was about the only way I would eat onions. Something about it makes it appealing to just about anyone.
I agree with you on the slow cooking of the onions. I think it would very much contribute to the right flavor for this soup. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe as I have been looking forward to it since you posted it in the group.
Mmm…gooey, melty cheesy bread with soup. 🙂
Seriously I’ll be right over. This looks fabulous. Hope you have some monster sized spoons.
What a gorgeous recipe and the red crocks… I must have them!
It is because of Sunday Supper that this soup is on my bucket list for this year. I can’t wait to make it
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