This dish reminds me of Paris. I often used to visit la ville lumière in winter and, believe me, it can be quite cold there. So we would often start our dinner with a warm soup and onion soup would be my first choice. I love it… well, if you are a fan of cheese like me, trust me… this is the perfect soup for you! What’s not to like? Cracking the crusty melted cheese on toasted bread with a spoon and finding a warm, hearty and sweetish soup underneath… that’s my idea of a perfect winter meal. So, today I am sharing with you my version of a classic French dish. I do not claim it to be the “original” recipe, but it is the one that I have come up with and that I have made at home for my family over the last few years. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! 🙂 Bon appétit!
Ingredients (for 4 persons):
1 kg – 2.2 lbs. onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tbsp butter and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
2 lt – 8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
4 tbsp flour
300 ml – 1 1/4 cups red wine
5 cloves
12 slices of stale baguette
12 slices of Gruyère cheese (or 200 gms – 7 oz. grated)
4 tbsp Marsala or Sherry or Cognac
salt
pepper
Put the onions, the extra virgin olive oil and butter in a big pot (1) and cook them on a slow fire for about 20 minutes or until soft and slightly browned (2). Make sure to stir frequently so the onions do not stick to the bottom of the pot. Add the chopped garlic and flour (3) and whisk well until combined. Add the wine (4) and keep whisking (5). Add the stock and cloves (6) and season with salt and pepper. Mix and cook on a slow fire for another 40 minutes.
When ready, add the Marsala (or Sherry or Cognac) and cook for a couple of minutes. Put the fire off and keep the soup aside.
Before serving, pour the soup into individual oven proof bowls. Top it with the sliced baguette and Gruyère cheese.
Broil in a pre-heated oven for a few minutes, until the cheese has melted and is golden brown. Serve hot!
Holy cow that looks gorgeous. I’m going to make this tomorrow. I’ve got everything and it’s going to rain like crazy and I’ll need this. 🙂
And I have never even actually tried onion soup.. 🙂
I used to cook at least 8 litres of this three or four times a week for 6 months or so. I actually miss cooking it. Gonna have to try it again. Thanks for the reminder.
Tasty looking onion soup. Surely it taste good as it looks =)
French onion soup is really one of my favourites too, Manu. I have made a version using oxtail bones and it is truly rich and flavourful. I usually add a Bay leaf, I’ve never seen cloves in a recipe, but I am so intrigued that I shall try it next time. Cloves do go very well with onions.
We were just talking French Onion soup with a friend’s husband who won’t eat onions, but LOVES FOS. Go figure.
There is a restaurant in a Andean town in Peru (Huaraz) called Creperie Patrick, because the name you may know that the owner is French, well, in that please they prepare the best Onion Soup in Peru.
I can’t wait to be in winter so I can try yours.
Mmm, that looks so warm and comforting 🙂 Reminds me of home in Europe. Beautiful recipe.
In UK we call this French Onion Soup and it’s a popular winter warmer. I add nutmeg at the end for some added spice and sugar with the onions to help the caramelisation, and put cheese at the bottom of warmed bowls before adding the soup to get a nice gooey bit of melted cheese on the bottom.
I have made onion soup before, but this totally tops the recipe I used. I like the use of Gruyere cheese instead of Parmesan. Sounds fabulous!
French Onion Soup is my favorite of all soups! Love your version of it!
I honeymooned in Paris in the winter and it was freezing. The perfect excuse for lots of hearty meals and red wine. I adore onion soup, this looks delicious.
I just made Onion soup a few days ago and scheduled the post for later… Thanks for sharing your recipe! Love onion soup and I would love to try your recipe sometime! Great post, Manu!
What a delicious looking soup. I love the croutons on top when they get all soggy
Wonderful. I’ll be in Paris for Christmas and can’t wait to have onion soup. It is one of my favorite soups from taking French language classes in junior high school. Thanks, I’ll have to make your version when I am back home.