Easy French Onion Soup Recipe

This easy French onion soup recipe is the ultimate comfort meal , made with readily available ingredients. This recipe is rich, deeply flavorful and topped with golden melted Gruyere cheese. Whether you are serving this as a starter or main, it is guaranteed to impress your friends and family.

About this Easy French Onion Soup Recipe

French onion soup (or Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée) first became popular in the 19th century, curated by the French as a humble, inexpensive, warm and hearty meal for the working class during the French Revolution. It was not until the 20th century when it was adapted with a crusty bread and cheese topping, served in french restaurants.

This recipe talks you through the whole process from caramelizing onions to toasting the bread topped with melted golden Gruyere. You are in for a treat!

Ingredients

The ingredients for this easy French onion soup recipe are easily sourced in your local grocery store. Here is what you will need...

• White onion
• Red onion
• Unsalted butter
• Beef stock
• Thyme and rosemary (tied together)
• White wine
• Worcester sauce
• Baguette
• Olive Oil
• Gruyere cheese
• Salt& pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Step by step photographs:

1. Step 1: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat.

2. Step 2: Add your onions and salt, leave to cook on low for up to 40 minutes (stirring occasionally)

3. Step 3: When your onions are caramelized, deglaze your pan with the white wine (scrape round the sides)

4. Step 4: Add your beef stock, tied sprigs of rosemary and thyme, Worcester sauce and salt and pepper. Remove your sprigs of rosemary and thyme after 10 minutes. Leave to simmer for 40 minutes.

5. Step 5: Brush your sliced baguette with olive oil, place on a baking tray and allow to broil until golden brown on both sides.

6. Step 6: Now time to assemble, to an oven proof bowl, add a generous helping of your french onion soup, place your golden baguette pieces on-top and sprinkle with a generous helping of Gruyere.

Substitutions

For the authentic French flavor to really come to life, I recommend using as many of the ingredients in this recipe as you can find. However, there are some easy substitutions you can make depending on you dietary requirements or what you have in your refrigerator.

• Cheese - You should be able to source Gruyere from any convenience store, however if you're finding it tricky here are the perfect substitutions: Comte cheese, Emmental or Mozzarella will all give you the salty, gooey cheese pull that makes this recipe so comforting.
• Onions - For a variety of flavor, I love using a mixture of white and red onion in my French Onion Soup. However, you could just use white onion if that's all you have to hand, or be adventurous and add even more depth of flavor by swapping a white onion for 2 shallots!
• Stock - Good quality beef stock is what really makes this dish special, make your own if you can or source high quality store bought stock. Alternatively, if you would like to keep this dish vegetarian, vegetable stock can also be used instead! Make sure to check whether the cheese you are using is vegetarian friendly too!

Variations

If by some miracle you have any French Onion Soup left over, you can either simply reheat it using the storage instructions below or how about try these variations:

• French onion pasta - A great way to use up any soup you may have left over. Simply reheat your soup with a splash of cream and stir into your favorite pasta shape.
• French onion dip - Add your left over soup to a blender along with some sour cream and cream cheese and you'll have yourself a delicious, moreish dip!
• French onion grilled cheese - Yes, you read that correctly! Why not add a delicious layer of french onion soup to your grilled cheese sandwiches? Or, if you're feeling extra adventurous, add a layer to this Croque Monsieur recipe.

Equipment

The only special equipment you will need to make your French Onion Soup extra indulgent is an oven proof pot/ soup dishes. This will allow you to broil your soup in the oven and add that delicious melted cheese on-top. If you don't have individual oven proof soup dishes, if you have cooked your soup in a large oven proof pot, you can simply top the soup with the toasted baguette and cheese and put the whole pot under the grill! Just be careful when taking it out the oven and when dishing it up into individual bowls!

Storage

• Refrigerating - If you have any soup left over that you would like to store in the refrigerator ready to reheat later, remove any topping such as bread and cheese as this will go soggy. Allow the soup to cool and add to an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezing - Only freeze the soup base, allow to cool and add to an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Reheating - If reheating from frozen, allow to thaw out completely and reheat on a stove or in the oven in an overproof dish. Then add your bread and cheese toppings and broil as per the instructions.