Wasfetna

Onion soup

Onions slowly caramelized to a deep brown in a rich stock, topped with toasted bread and melted cheese.

Onion soup
Cooking time
1 hr 15 min
Hands-on time
25 min
Free time
35 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
French
Calories
160
Contains
Gluten, Dairy

The onions are the whole soup. Forty minutes of slow caramelizing is no exaggeration, because golden onions give a soup with no flavor. Then toasted bread and cheese under the grill until melted and browned in spots.

Before you start

  • Before you beginRead the steps completely, measure the ingredients, and prepare the tools before turning on the heat or oven.
  • Timing the servingPrepare what you can in advance and leave the final touches until serving time to maintain the texture.

Ingredients

6people

Amounts follow the number of people

For the soup

For the topping

When doubling the quantity, use a wider container, and gradually increase the salt and seasoning after tasting.

Shopping list

Equipment

  • Heavy-based pot — Slow caramelizing burns onto a thin base.
  • Oven-safe bowls — The top is melted under the grill — ordinary bowls cannot go under it.

Method

  1. Melt the butter and add the onions and sugar, and stir over medium-low heat.

    10 min
    You’ll know it’s ready when

    The onion has begun to wilt and release its juices.

    Tip: Sugar speeds up the caramelizing and you won't taste it at the end.

  2. Leave the onions to caramelize slowly, stirring every few minutes, until they become a deep brown.

    35 minYou can walk away
    You’ll know it’s ready when

    The onions are caramel brown and have cooked down to a fifth.

    Tip: That is the whole soup. Forty minutes isn't an exaggeration — onions that are only golden make a flat soup.

  3. Sprinkle the flour and stir for two minutes, then gradually add the broth while stirring.

    6 min
    You’ll know it’s ready when

    There are no lumps of flour and the liquid has started to thicken.

  4. Add the thyme and salt and let the soup simmer gently.

    15 minYou can walk away
    You’ll know it’s ready when

    The color is dark brown and the taste is deep.

  5. Pour it into bowls, top with toasted bread and cheese, and put it under the broiler until it melts.

    6 min
    You’ll know it’s ready when

    The cheese has melted and browned in spots.

What this teaches

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