Description
Delightful French Onion Cheese Soup brings classic comfort from Paris kitchens, blending rich caramelized onions with melted gruyère cheese. Creamy, hearty broth and golden toasted bread create a luxurious meal perfect for warming winter evenings you’ll love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 32 ounces (907 grams) low-sodium beef broth
- 24 ounces (680 grams) low-sodium chicken broth
- 5 thick slices of French bread
Cheese Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups shredded Gruyere Swiss cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese, room temperature
Seasoning and Cooking Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a spacious pot, gently melt butter over medium heat, introducing thinly sliced onions. Allow the onions to gradually transform, stirring occasionally, until they become soft and develop a rich, golden-brown caramelization. This process requires patience, taking approximately 40-45 minutes.
- Infuse the caramelized onions with minced garlic, releasing its aromatic essence. Pour in beef and chicken broths, introducing Worcestershire sauce, fresh thyme, and a bay leaf to create a complex flavor profile.
- Let the liquid simmer gently, allowing the herbs and broths to meld and intensify their collective taste. The gentle cooking develops depth and richness in the soup’s character.
- Carefully remove the spent thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Enhance the soup’s complexity by drizzling balsamic vinegar, then fine-tune the seasoning with salt and pepper to suit your palate.
- Prepare crisp bread slices by brushing with olive oil and toasting under the broiler until they achieve a golden, crunchy exterior. Monitor closely to prevent burning.
- Transfer the steaming soup into oven-safe bowls, positioning a toasted bread slice atop each portion. Generously blanket the surface with a medley of Swiss, Mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses.
- Position the cheese-laden bowls under the broiler, watching intently as the cheese melts and transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown crust that seals the soup’s warmth and flavor.
Notes
- Slow caramelization transforms ordinary onions into rich, sweet flavor foundations that require patience and gentle heat.
- Layering different broths creates depth and complexity, bringing robust taste dimensions to this classic soup.
- Toasting bread separately ensures crispy texture and prevents soggy bread when topped on the soup.
- Mixing multiple cheese varieties adds complex melting qualities and enhances overall taste profile.
- Balsamic vinegar provides a subtle tangy finish that balances the soup’s deep, savory characteristics.
- Broiling at the final stage creates a golden, crispy cheese crust that elevates the entire dining experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 342
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg