Best Ever French Onion Soup

2Bleu's Note:

For the best flavor, make the soup a day ahead. Prep time does not include making this a day ahead.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 40 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

Soup

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 large Spanish onions, quartered and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup flour
• 9 cups beef broth
• 3/4 cup red wine
• 3 tablespoons brandy
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

CROUTON BREAD SLICES

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 slices French bread, 1/2-inch thick

Topping

• 4 -6 ounces gruyere cheese, shredded (or mozzarella)

Directions:

1. SOUP: In dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and salt, cover and cook until softened, stirring occasionally about 15 minutes. Uncover and cook until caramelized, about 30 minutes more.
2. Stir in flour; cook 2 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, partially covered about 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Cool and refrigerate till next day.
3. CROUTON BREAD SLICES: Preheat oven to 375°F Mix olive oil with garlic powder and brush both sides of bread slices with the oil mixture. Place on baking sheet and bake 12 minutes, turning once, until bread is slightly toasted. Set aside.
4. TO SERVE: Preheat broiler. On stovetop, heat soup to a simmer. Ladle soup into 4 broiler safe bowls. Top with french bread slices and cheese. Place bowls on baking sheet and broil 4" from heat until cheese is bubbly. about 2 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
5. PASTRY PUFF VARIATION: Preheat the oven to 400°F Roll out one sheet of puff pastry and sprinkle with half the Gruyere cheese, fold into 3 and roll out again. Cut out 4 lids. Divide the soup among ovenproof soup bowls. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of soup and cover with the pastry lids with a little egg wash seal. Bake the soup in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesy puff pastry is golden in colour and well risen.

Reviews

[IndyGrl87]

Awesome! This is a warm, comforting dish. The only modification I made was to infuse the olive oil with fresh, cracked garlic cloves instead of using the powder. It gave it a subtle hint of fresh garlic. Also, I think that refrigerating it overnight to allow the flavors to combine and develop is essential if you have the time. Absolutely wonderful - well done!

[Noo]

This is a soup that has perfectly balanced,deep,rich flavours.Elegant enough for a dinner party,yet satisfying enough for a working lunch. This recipe is also easy enough for those who are not terribly confident in the kitchen,to produce a great tasting dish. A triumph-thank you for posting. Made for PRMR.

[Giovanni-B]

Great with our roast beef sandwiches tonight! I made a number of changes--only out of necessity and for fewer people. Only used 1 onion, and instead of beef broth (didn't have any), used beef Better than Boullion, along with a good splash of burgundy wine but, unfortunately, no brandy on hand (will have to get some just for this recipe). For croutons, used 2-day old ciabatta bread from Tish (Recipe 29253), and mozzarella cheese. Didn't wait a day (couldn't
:-O). Leftovers tomorrow! Thanks for sharing, 2Bleu!