Ingredients
Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.
Serves 4
Onions
Soup
Toast
Equipment
Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; oven; baking tray; oven gloves; saucepan with lid; sieve; heavy frying pan; spatula; grill or oven broiler; tongs; heatproof spoon; spatula.
Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.
Steps
Caramelize · About 45 min
- Cook 900 g onions, thinly sliced, 50 g butter, ½ tsp salt over medium-low heat 45 minutes, stirring, until deep golden.
Check: Look for this result: deep golden.
Simmer · About 20 min
- Add wine from 150 ml dry white wine, 1200 ml beef stock, 1 tsp thyme, scrape pan, then stock and thyme. Simmer 20 minutes.
Gratin · About 5 min
- Toast bread from 8 baguette slices, 120 g Gruyere, grated. Divide soup into ovenproof bowls, add toast and cheese; broil 3–5 minutes until bubbling.
Check: Look for this result: bubbling.
Tips
- Onions need time to become deeply golden without burning.
- Judge French Onion Soup by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long French Onion Soup takes to cook.
Substitutions
- Use vegetable stock and vegetarian cheese for a meat-free version.
Storage
- Get perishable French Onion Soup into the fridge within two hours, or within one hour above 32°C / 90°F. Eat French Onion Soup within two days, keeping it covered at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
- Bring cooked French Onion Soup to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning it for even heating. When French Onion Soup is part of the meal, serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts straight from safe refrigeration.
- If French Onion Soup includes a thick sauce or soup, loosen it with a little water during gentle reheating. Any crisp coating on French Onion Soup becomes softer in storage.
Make ahead
- Prepare the measured ingredients for French Onion Soup one day ahead. For French Onion Soup, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for French Onion Soup on the day of serving.
FAQ
What matters most when making French Onion Soup?
Onions need time to become deeply golden without burning.
What can I substitute in French Onion Soup?
Use vegetable stock and vegetarian cheese for a meat-free version.
Can I prepare French Onion Soup ahead?
Prepare the measured ingredients for French Onion Soup one day ahead. For French Onion Soup, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for French Onion Soup on the day of serving.
Food safety references
FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating
