French Onion Soup

Recipe courtesy Anne Burrell

Show: Secrets of a Restaurant ChefEpisode: The Secret to French Onion Soup

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (32)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(32)

Cook Time:
2 hr 30 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Total:: 2 hr 55 min

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Ingredients

Extra-virgin olive oil
8 large onions, thinly sliced from stem to root end
Kosher salt
6 ounces dry sherry
4 bay leaves
1 bundle thyme
2 quarts chicken stock
12 thin slices baguette
1/2 pound Gruyere, grated
1/2 bunch chopped chives

Directions

Coat a large deep pot with olive oil. Add the onions and sprinkle generously with salt. Bring the pan to a medium heat. Stir the onions to coat with oil. Cover the pot and sweat for 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the onions have gotten very soft and let off a lot of water, remove the lid and let the onions cook looooow and sloooooooooow. That's right low and slow to really develop their rich brown color and sweet flavor. There is no shortcut or rush for this, DO NOT TRY! Caramelized onions take a long time, about an hour, accept it and move on.

When the onions are very brown and have gotten considerably smaller, add the sherry and cook until the sherry has reduced by half. Add the bay leaves, thyme bundle and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour. TASTE for seasoning, you probably will need to season with salt. If the stock reduces too much add water to keep the liquid level up- this IS a soup after all. When done, the soup should be thick and very full flavored. TASTE! You may need to resason, caramelized onions are very sweet and require a fair amount of salt.

Toast or grill the baguette slices. Fill ovenproof crocks 3/4 of the way with the onion soup, float 2 toasts in each bowl and top with grated Gruyere. Place the crocks under the broiler to melt the cheese and make it brown and bubbly. Top with chopped chives.

Voila!!

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Comments & Reviews

recipe French Onion Soup
david Lincoln City, OR 02-06-2010
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Cant stop making this!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is the best soup ever. Time consuming but still easy, it has become an absolute favorite in this kitchen.
recipe French Onion Soup
Teri Aiken, SC 01-31-2010
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Better than any restaurant version!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This soup was awesome! Except it took twice as long for my onions to caramelize as the recipe states, so prepare this recipe... several hours ahead of time. Refrigerating the soup overnight only enhances the incredible flavor! I used Emmentaler cheese because that's all I could find and it was delicious!Read more
recipe French Onion Soup
jack KEY WEST, FL 01-30-2010
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Dead on with the flavor.
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this twice and it has not disappointed me. I freeze several portions in freezer zip bags and store flat in the... freezer for fast comfort food. It's great for when the french bread is two days old and hard as rock and feel guilty on throwing it out . Read more
recipe French Onion Soup
Maria Clayton, NC 01-17-2010
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Yummy!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've made this soup twice now and both times it rocked! This is definitely a lazy Sunday soup because it does take over 3... hours to finish...but the results are worth the wait. The sherry makes the dish! I've tried it with both chicken and beef broths and the results were excellent for each. My family prefers mozzarella and it melted just beautifully in the broiler. This recipes is a keeper!Read more
recipe French Onion Soup
J Green Cove Springs, FL 01-15-2010
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THE tastiest French Onion Soup I've Ever Eaten
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Truly the easiest and tastiest recipe for French Onion Soup that I've ever tried. It's a bowl of sweetness that is truly... satisfying. I cook with propane and it was 2 hours for the cooking of the onions and an hour and a half more of simmering. Nothing complicated -- just an occasional stir, and then what a reward! Thanks Chef Anne for another fabulous recipe.Read more
recipe French Onion Soup
Mark St. Louis, MO 01-14-2010
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Great Reviews-Question
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have been making French Onion Soup for several years and have gotten great results. I was looking for a new recipe and came... across this one which I am planning to make. I am looking for clarification of using chicken broth vs beef broth as I have always used beef broth. How is the flavor affected?Read more