Soupe À L'oignon
This French onion soup recipe is such a French classic, it's hard to believe it's such an easy soup to make by following the step-by-step instructions. It's very economical and provides lots of nourishment for your family especially on a cold winters day.
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✅About The Onion Johnnies
Before Mother's did most of their shopping at grocery stores children grew up with memories of "The Onion Jonnhies" (as it used to be spelled) coming around their neighborhoods selling their freshly grown onions on long ropes.
Then, not long after the visit from the Johnnies a big pan of onion soup made from the onions from their visit would be simmering on the stove top. (More about the onion Johnnies.)
With this recipe you will have a delicious mouthwatering golden soup to be proud of and they will definitely come back for more!
You will love it!
It helps get rid of a nasty cold too, just add more garlic or make garlic soup, it works every time for me.
📋Ingredients
- cooking onions
- flour
- butter
- oil
- fresh garlic
- sugar
- dried thyme
- white wine
- salt
- chicken or beef broth - make your own chicken broth or beef broth.
- brandy
- slices of thick French bread
- gruyere, swiss, parmesan or any hard cheese, or a combination mix is delicious
🔢Instructions
- Heat oil and butter over medium heat.
- Add chopped onions and cook slowly in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes. Caramelizing the onions will enhance the flavor considerably, here's how: Caramelized Onions
- Remove lid and stir in the garlic, thyme salt, and sugar.
- Cook for about 40 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions have turned a lovely golden brown color.
- Remove from heat whilst you stir in the flour until it is well blended.
- Return to the heat and gradually stir in the boiling stock and the white wine.
- Season to taste.
- Simmer the soup, partially covered, for about another 40 minutes.
- Taste again and season if needed.
- Stir in brandy.
- Prepare the hard toast by rubbing each piece with the garlic clove.
- When ready to serve, pour into a soup tureen or soup cups, over the rounds of bread.
- Pass the cheese round separately so each person can take what they want to sprinkle over the toast.
🔄Substitutions
For Brandy (Always replace the liquid amount with something.)
- white grape juice
- apple juice
- diluted peach, pear or apricot syrups
- apple cider
- apple cider vinegar
- water
How To Try The Substitution Of Your Choice
Take a small amount of the broth out of the soup pot and pour into a bowl. Add a little of the substitution liquid you have chosen to test the taste before mixing into the entire dish just in case it is not to your liking.
This way you can test a few of the other liquids without ruining the whole batch.
🙌Variations
There are some very quick recipes for onion soup but they don't do it justice. But here is one that is easy and yummy Easy French Onion Soup Recipe and of course this one!
🍴Equipment
- heavy-bottom soup pan - I use an enameled cast iron pot with a lid or a stone pot that used to be a pressure cooker. With either one it is almost impossible to burn anything.
- sharp knife to cut vegetables
- bread board
- toaster or oven for toasting French bread
💡Top Tip
Taking the time to caramelize the onions first and not just throwing them in to cook with the rest of the soup, is essential to develop the rich full-bodied flavor of true French onion soup.
❄️Storage
Before adding the toasted bread this soup can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days or frozen for 2-3 months.
✨Lot's Of Yummy Recipes To Try
📖 Recipe
Prep Like a Pro
Before you start cooking, chop, measure, and prep every ingredient, and gather your tools.
This simple habit reduces stress, prevents overcooking, and instantly improves your meals. Mise en Place - "Everything in its place."
Classic French Onion Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large onions
- 2 level tablespoons 30 grams of flour
- 2 level tablespoons 30 grams butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sugar helps the onions to turn golden brown
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ cups ¼ pint dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups 4 pints of boiling chicken broth or beef broth - you can buy this but to make your own please go to how to make chicken stock
- 2 tablespoon brandy optional, but oh so good, especially for a cold day!
- 1 slice of thick French hard toasted bread per person
- 1 garlic clove peeled from its shirt
- 2 cups 8 ozs Gruyere, Swiss, Parmesan or any hard cheese, or a combination mix will be delicious
Instructions
- Heat oil and butter over medium heat.
- Add chopped onions and cook slowly in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes.
- Remove lid and stir in the garlic, thyme salt, and sugar.
- Cook for about 40 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions have turned a lovely golden brown color.
- Remove from heat whilst you stir in the flour until it is well blended.
- Return to the heat and gradually stir in the boiling stock and the white wine.
- Season to taste.
- Simmer the soup, partially covered, for about another 40 minutes.
- Taste again and season if needed.
- Stir in brandy.
- Prepare the hard toast by rubbing each piece with the garlic clove.
- When ready to serve, pour into a soup tureen or soup cups, over the rounds of bread.
- Pass the cheese round separately so each person can take what they want to sprinkle over the toast.
- Now you will know just how good this French onion soup recipe really is, and want to make it whenever the fancy takes you.
Loved it, tweaked it, or not your "cup of tea"... I’d really love to hear how it went for you.