Description
Hearty French onion soup bake delivers classic comfort with a modern twist. Caramelized onions, crusty bread, and melted Gruyère cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) beef broth
- 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 cups (200 grams) grated Gruyère cheese
- 1 French baguette, sliced
- 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine
- 4 tbsps (56 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium temperature. Sauté onions slowly, stirring consistently until they transform into a deep golden-brown color, developing rich, intense flavor complexity (approximately 40-45 minutes).
- Build Soup Base: Deglaze pot with dry white wine, scraping accumulated caramelized bits. Incorporate beef broth, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves. Bring mixture to boil, then reduce to gentle simmer, allowing flavors to meld and intensify for 20-25 minutes.
- Prepare Crostini: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange baguette slices on baking sheet, transforming them into crisp, golden-brown crostini through precise toasting (5-7 minutes).
- Assemble and Cheese: Remove thyme and bay leaves from soup. Ladle aromatic liquid into heat-resistant bowls, positioning toasted baguette slice on top. Generously crown each serving with grated Gruyère cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Final Broil: Position cheese-topped bowls under broiler. Monitor carefully as cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbling crust (3-5 minutes). Serve immediately, presenting a luxurious, piping-hot French onion experience.
Notes
- Timing is Crucial: Caramelizing onions demands patience, taking 40-45 minutes to develop a deep golden-brown color. Rush this step, and you’ll miss the soup’s signature rich flavor.
- Wine Selection Matters: Choose a dry white wine that complements the soup’s savory profile. Avoid overly sweet varieties that can disrupt the delicate balance of flavors.
- Cheese Coverage Technique: Ensure complete cheese coverage over the baguette slice for a perfect golden-brown crust. The cheese should create a seamless, melted blanket across the entire surface.
- Broiling Precision: Watch the soup closely under the broiler, as 30 seconds can transform perfectly melted cheese into a burnt disaster. Remove immediately when the cheese reaches a luxurious golden-brown color.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Simmering, Broiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg