Panera Five Onion Soup With Scallion and Gruyere Croutons

Submitted by Celeste

"This is a recipe from Panera Bread."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 20mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 3 large yellow onions, halved and sliced (pole to pole)
• 3 red onions, halved and sliced
• 6 shallots, halved and sliced
• 3 leeks, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise (white parts only)
• 3 cups scallions, sliced (greens reserved for croutons)
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine
• 1 bunch fresh thyme, cut into 4-inch lengths (12 sprigs)
• 6 quarts beef stock (homemade or low-sodium canned)
• 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch coins
• 1 cup gruyere cheese, grated

directions

1. In a 12-quart stockpot, sauté the onions, shallots, leeks, scallion whites, garlic and a heavy pinch of salt in 2 tablespoons oil until the onions begin to caramelize. Deglaze with red wine. Add the thyme and stock to the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for at least 1 hour. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
2. While the soup is simmering, preheat the oven to broil. Toss the bread coins with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and place flat on a sheet pan. Toss the scallion greens with the Gruyere, and top each coin with the mixture. Bake on a rack in the middle of the oven for 3 minutes and then transfer to the broiler to lightly brown the tops. The cheese should be bubbly. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with croutons.