French onion soup

For those days when you need something warm and comforting, try this classic recipe.


French onion soup

When it gets cold outside, a hearty French onion soup can warm you up.

The most time-consuming part of this recipe is caramelizing the onions, but that’s a crucial step. Use the deepest, largest pan you have in the house to give you the surface area you need to cook this huge mound of onions.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds onions, cut in half lengthwise, peeled and sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • Salt and pepper
  • Optional: sliced whole-grain baguette, Dijon, and gruyere or some other cheese

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Sauté the onions, garlic, and thyme, stirring frequently, for about 20 minutes or until the onions start turning brown.
  3. Add the sugar and cook for about another 10 minutes until the onions are nicely caramelized. This is important as it gives the soup its flavor.
  4. Add the flour and the Dijon mustard. Cook and stir for a couple of minutes.
  5. Add the wine and cook until it is almost all evaporated. Add the broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper.
  6. Preheat the broiler. Toast some whole-grain baguette slices. Spread them with Dijon mustard and top with some grated Gruyere or cheese of choice.
  7. In heat-proof serving bowls, ladle a serving of soup, top with the toasts, and broil until the cheese is melted.

Nutrition information (per serving)

  • Calories: 240
  • Total fat: 9 g
  • Saturated fat: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 5 mg
  • Sodium: 290 mg
  • Total carbohydrate: 31 g
  • Dietary fiber: 4 g
  • Total sugars: 13 g
  • Protein: 5 g

Does not include added salt