French Onion Soup

Submitted by gailanng

"From February, 2010 Louisiana Cooking."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 30mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• Soup

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cups thinly sliced yellow onions
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1⁄4 cup brandy
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 quarts beef stock or 3 quarts broth
• 1 1⁄2 cups dry white wine
• salt and black pepper, to taste

• Croutons

• 8 thick slices French bread
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• Gratinee

• 8 ounces gruyere cheese, shredded
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces freshly grated parmesan cheese

directions

1. For the soup, heat the butter and oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions and increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are golden and very soft, approximately 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium; add the garlic and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes more. Mash the garlic with a fork.
2. Carefully pour in the brandy and stir to loosen any brown particles on the bottom of the pot. Add the mustard, thyme and flour and stir for 3 minutes. Gradually stir in the broth and wine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, over medium heat for about 30 to 45 minutes.
3. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350°F To make the croutons, spread one side of each bread slice with 1 1/2 teaspoons butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons oil. Sprinkle with the garlic. Toast the prepared side on a baking pan until crusty and golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.
4. Combine the cheeses for the gratinée. Preheat the broiler. Ladle the hot soup into 8 oven-proof soup bowls and fill three-fourths full. Float a crouton in the center of each bowl. Top each bowl generously with the cheese mixture. Broil about 6 inches from the heat until the cheese melts and is bubbly, about 4 minutes. Serve immediately.

Reviews

[CookingONTheSide]

Delicious! This is the first time I think I have ever put mustard in my French onion soup, but it works! French onion is one of my favorite soups and this is now one of my favorite recipes for it. I liked the addition of brandy, too. This soup is full of flavor. Croutons work really well for the topping. Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.