Soup a l'oignon Gratinée - French Onion Soup

This recipe caramelizes the onions slowly to help maximize their sweet flavor. The addition of cider vinegar, fish sauce, sherry, and fresh chives take it up to another level. Add a piece of toasted bread topped with melted Gruyere cheese and you've created something really special.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Lunch, Soup

Cuisine: East-Central France, French

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 1 30

Total Time: 1 50

Servings:

Author: My Hungry Traveler

Equipment

Large pot
Rimmed baking pan
4 - 6 ovenproof bowls

Ingredients

6 tbsp Unsalted butter
4 lb Yellow onion
½ cup Dry sherry
8 cups Half each of chicken and beef broth
12 tsp Dried thyme (Sub: a few sprigs fresh thyme)
1 Bay leaf
1 tsp Asian fish sauce
1 tsp Cider vinegar
1 large Baguette or a rustic bread, cut into ½ inch slices
1 clove Garlic
16 oz Gruyere cheese, grated or shredded Swiss and Emmenthaller cheeses are decent substitutes

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Instructions

In a large pot, melt butter over med-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened. Lower heat to lowest possible temperature. Cook until onions are sweet and golden brown, 1½ hours. Stir occasionally and add 1 tbsp water if sticking. Generously season with salt & pepper.
Deglaze pot with sherry, scraping up bits on bottom. Alcohol smell should be gone after 3 minutes. Add stock, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove thyme sprigs, if using, and bay leaf. Add fish sauce and vinegar. Turn off heat.
Toast bread slices, rub with garlic then butter. Preheat broiler and move oven rack to top position.
Assemble soup as follows: place 4-6 ovenproof bowls on a rimmed baking pan. Spoon a small amount of onions-broth on each bottom, then 1 slice of toast. Top with a little cheese and the remaining onions-broth. Submerge another toast and the rest of cheese over that. Broil until cheese is melted and beginning to brown. Sprinkle on chives and serve.

Notes

Garlic croutons may be used in place of toasted bread.
A single large oven proof bowl may be used but is not as special as individual bowls. To use, assemble in same fashion.

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