Description
This Rich and Simple French Onion Soup recipe is a classic French comfort dish featuring caramelized onions simmered in a savory beef broth with hints of thyme and sherry. Topped with toasted French bread and a medley of melted cheeses, this soup offers a deliciously warm and hearty meal perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauté Base
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups sliced onions
Soup
- 5 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
- 4 slices French bread
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- 2 slices Swiss cheese, diced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the onions: In a large skillet or saucepan, melt the unsalted butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, allowing them to caramelize until golden brown and soft, which usually takes about 25-30 minutes.
- Make the soup base: Once the onions are caramelized, add the beef broth, dry sherry, and dried thyme to the skillet. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Prepare the bread and cheese topping: While the soup simmers, preheat your oven to broil. Arrange the French bread slices on a baking sheet. Place provolone cheese slices over each piece of bread, sprinkle diced Swiss cheese on top, and finish with a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Toast the bread with cheese: Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 2-4 minutes, watching carefully until the cheese is bubbly, melted, and slightly golden. Remove from oven once ready.
- Assemble and serve: Ladle the hot onion soup into oven-safe bowls or crocks. Top each bowl with a slice of the toasted cheesy French bread. Optionally, place the bowls briefly under the broiler to melt the cheese further into the soup, about 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy your comforting French onion soup.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use homemade beef broth or high-quality store-bought broth.
- Dry sherry adds depth but can be substituted with white wine or omitted if preferred.
- Caramelizing onions slowly is key to developing the soup’s rich flavor—avoid rushing this step by turning up the heat too high.
- Use oven-safe bowls for broiling the soup; if unavailable, you can toast the bread separately and place it on top just before serving.
- Vegetarian option: Substitute beef broth with vegetable broth and omit the dry sherry.
