How long does it take to make French Onion Soup?
For 1.5 kg onions, 50 g butter; fry over low heat, stirring often and patiently, until the onion is deep brown, then flour, white wine and stock, and cook for about half an hour.
58 minTotal
35 minActive time
23 minSetting
Step by Step
| # | What to do | How long |
|---|
| 1 | Heat the butter in a pot over low heat | — |
| 2 | Add the onion and fry for 30 minutes, stirring | 30 min |
| 3 | Add the flour to the onion and stir for a minute | 1 min |
| 4 | Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes | 2 min |
| 5 | 'Add the stock, season with salt and black pepper and bring to a boil. 'Turn down the heat and simmer 20 minutes | 20 min |
| 6 | Divide the soup among ovenproof bowls, place slice of bread on top of each bowl and sprinkle with the cheese | 1 min |
| 7 | Put the bowls under the oven broiler for 3–5 minutes | 4 min |
How to Tell It's Done
- until the onion is soft and deep golden
- until the cheese melts and bubbles
Tips
- Add by cooking time: what needs long (onion, carrot, meat) goes in first, and what burns fast (garlic, dry spices) goes in last, only until fragrant.
- Flour cooked for a minute with the onion and butter thickens the soup without lumps: stir it in well before the liquids.
- The soup's flavor comes from the browned onion: low heat, frequent stirring and patience. Onion burned at the edges makes a bitter soup.
Common Mistakes
- A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
More Ways
- Top the soup with a slice of baguette and hard cheese (Emmental, Gruyère or Parmesan), and broil until the cheese melts.
The full recipe: French Onion Soup →
Recipes with French Onion Soup
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