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A Closer Look at French Onion Soup

French onion soup is one of the most popular soup recipes in restaurants. It is also one of the most simple to prepare. Traditional French onion soup is a combination of rich beef broth and sweet, caramelized onions, topped with French bread, and melted cheese.

This classic dish is a favorite in many countries for its perfectly contrasting flavors. The sweetness of the caramelized onions goes wonderfully with the sharpness of the cheese and the beef broth gives the soup a rich flavor.

The Basics in an Onion Soup Recipe

French onion soup starts with the onion and beef broth in oven safe soup bowls. Crusty croutons, which are covered in Gruyere cheese slices, are used to top the soup and then it is broiled until the cheese melts over the top.

Broth and onions are the onion soup basics but different recipes call for different ingredients and there are lots of kinds of onion soup recipes you can make.

French Onion Soup Cheese

Gruyere cheese is used in classic French onion soup recipes but you can use another kind of cheese if you prefer it or if you do not like gruyere. Gruyere cheese is a hard yellow cheese from Switzerland. It is sweet and slightly salty.

Some French onion soup recipes use mozzarella, cheddar, Jack cheese or even parmesan and the sharpness of cheese contrasts well with the natural sweetness of onion. For traditional French onion soup, cheese is a necessary topping but you can use your favorite cheese if you are not fond of Gruyere or if you cannot find it.

Making a Classic French Onion Soup Recipe

Caramelizing the onions is one of the most important steps to know about when learning how to make traditional French onion soup because this draws out the natural sugars, enhancing the onion flavor and sweetness.

Many chefs like to add a splash of sherry or cognac to the soup near the end of the caramelizing process to deglaze the pan and add even more flavor but this is not a necessary step and you will not find it in all French onion soup recipes.

You need fresh onions to make the best French onion soup and homemade beef broth is the best kind to use in this classic gourmet recipe. Once you have your broth and your onions, you will find that there are many types of French onion soup you can make, including vegan and vegetarian versions.

A vegetarian onion soup would use vegetable broth instead of beef broth and you can use vegan cheese for a vegan onion soup recipe. These versions might not be authentic French onion soup but there are lots of easy onion soups that are really flavorful and you do not have to stick closely to the classic French onion soup recipe.

Easy French Onion Soup Recipes for Beginners

If you are new to soup making, you can make an easy French onion soup by choosing an easy French onion soup recipe. French onion soup is basically onions, beef broth, bread, and cheese so this is not a difficult soup to make, although some onion soup recipes have a lot of different ingredients in.

Some of the best onion soup recipes are the simplest ones so if you are a novice cook, rather than a seasoned chef, you can make an easy French soup which is just as impressive as a more complex one.

Thanks for visiting,

Christine and everyone here at French Onion Soups

Featured French Onion Soup Recipe:

The Best French Onion Soup Tuscan Style

This French onion soup recipe combines some Tuscan flavors like wine and pancetta with the classic French onion soup ingredients. Tuscan cooks like to make soups and in fact, they make more soups than pasta. Bread is often used in Tuscan soup recipes and is placed in the bowl either before the soup is added or used as a thickener.

If you want to make the best French onion soup, recipe this one is extremely good. The pancetta and wine add a rich flavor to the dish and the classic ingredients of beef broth, onions, bread, and cheese bring a gourmet touch of France to your table as well.

The fresh lemon juice in this French onion soup recipe adds a sharp tang and the cheese is a nice topping. You can use a different type of cheese if you prefer, like Emmental, Gruyere, or something similar. Just throw the grated cheese on top of the soup and it will melt a little when it touches the hot liquid and you can use as much cheese as you want to. Lots of the best French onion soup recipes feature a big crouton with the cheese on top but you can serve the bread as croutons and the cheese grated instead of broiled and melted, like in this recipe, if you like.

Tuscan Onion Soup Recipe with Pancetta

Ingredients -

5 yellow onions, thinly sliced
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
½ cup dry red wine
5 ½ cups hot beef broth
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ lb pancetta, diced
5 slices bread, ½ inch thick
Salt and black pepper, to taste
4 sprigs fresh parsley, to garnish

Preparation:

Heat 4 tablespoons of the oil over a medium high heat in a big pot and add the pancetta.

Cook it for 2 minutes then add the onions, cover the pot and let them cook for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the lemon juice and let it evaporate.

Add the wine and broth and stir well.

Cover the pot and let the onion soup simmer for 30 minutes.

Season to taste.

Pour the rest of the olive oil into a skillet and brown the bread on both sides, then drain it on paper towels.

Put 1 slice of toast into each serving bowl and cut the other one into cubes to make croutons.

Pour the soup over the bread and top each bowl of onion soup with some croutons, a handful of cheese and a sprig of parsley.

(Serves 4)

French Onion Soup Recipe

Photo Description:

This is one of the best French onion soup recipes to make if you want something meaty, rich, and well balanced. You can alter the ingredients a little if you want to, perhaps replacing the beef broth with chicken broth for a lighter flavor or using a different type of cheese or bread. The caramelized onions are the main ingredient in French onion soup and this soup has plenty of onions with red wine, lemon juice and pancetta to add other elements to the overall soup flavor.

An Introduction to Onion Soup Recipes

Onion soup is one of the most popular soups ordered in restaurants and it is also delightfully simple to make at home. There are different types of onion soup, depending on your tastes and preferences, and you can make everything from an easy French onion soup to a complex onion soup recipe with plenty of herbs, wine, and flavors blending together perfectly.

Apart from the delicious flavor, another reason why onion soup is so popular is that it is very nutritious. Of course, the other ingredients you add to a French onion soup recipe such as wine, cheese, cream, or oil will change its nutritional values but onions are good for you.

The Truth about Onion Soup and Health

New research onions show that they might have health benefits rivaling garlic. Onions have been used for a long time to treat lung problems but it is now thought they can decrease allergy induced bronchial spasms in asthmatics and they also prevent bacterial lung infections.

Onions help to prevent harmful blood clots and they can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. Onions reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, including colon cancer and stomach cancer. The results of one study showed that people who ate half an onion per day halved their risk of cancer. Red meat is thought to elevate your cancer risk and onions help to keep this risk down.

There are more flavanoids in stronger onions like New York Bold, Western Yellow, and Northern Red onions, these make them better antioxidants, and these varieties have greater anti-cancer activity.

Not only can onions lower your risk of cancer and improve heart and lung health but they taste great too and what better way to enjoy delicious onions than in a bowl of homemade French onion soup?

Which is the Best Loved Onion Soup?

Before you start making French onion soup, it is a good idea to look at the different types of onion soup recipes and choose one you think your family would like. If you are very busy but you still like to make homemade dinners, perhaps a crockpot French onion soup recipe or one of our quick and easy French onion soup recipes would be perfect.

If you have enjoyed a particularly delicious French onion soup in a restaurant, maybe you should try one of our French onion soup copycat recipes so you can make the exact same dish in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Different onion soup recipes appeal to different people, although most people would say that with their French onion soup cheese and croutons are necessary to finish off the dish. Beef broth is normally used in French onion soup but you can try chicken broth, vegetable broth or even turkey broth for a more unusual onion soup flavor.

Getting Creative with an Onion Soup Recipe

Onion soup is a dish you can be very imaginative with. Most vegetables go nicely with onion so perhaps you want to add some cabbage, broccoli or mushrooms to your French onion soup recipe, either because it needs to be used up or because you like the taste. Herbs go well too, so if you have some fresh sage, tarragon, parsley, or thyme, try adding some to bring out the sweet onion flavor.

You can experiment with different cheeses too. Traditional French onion soup recipes call for Gruyere but Stilton, cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan all go well with this dish. There is no right way or wrong way to make onion soup and as long as it is hot, rich and full of flavor, your family will love it.

Inside French Onion Soup

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Wonderful French Onion Soup - French onion soup is a classic soup because the flavors and textures go together so well. The sweet, juicy onions complement the meaty beef broth and the Swiss cheese and croutons on top are the perfect garnish and boost the flavor. French onion soup is popular in many different countries, each with their own variations, and there are even different French onion soup recipes in France, where it originated...

 

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Easy Onion Soup Recipes - Onion soup is simple enough for beginner cooks to create and delicious enough to enjoy on a regular basis. There are lots of different flavors you can add to your onion soup recipes and different toppings you can use too. Easy French onion soup is a healthy, nutritious meal for the whole family...

 

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French Onion Soup Copy Cat Recipe Ideas - Rather than making classic French onion soup, you might like to make a French onion soup copy cat recipe if you have a famous onion soup recipe in mind. There are various French onion soup copy cat recipes you can try and you can either stick to the authentic copy cat recipe or change a few parts of it to make it into your own unique onion soup recipe...

 

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Fascinating Onion Soup Articles - Did you know that for French onion soup cheese is an authentic topping or that French onion soup dates back to Roman times? Our articles combine soup making tips with the history of this delicious dish and other onion soup recipe facts. Easy French onion soup is healthy, delicious and a great meal for the family and knowing some facts about this flavorful dish makes it more attractive still...

 

Five Reasons to Make Your Own Onion Soup Recipes

Making your own onion soup is much easier than you might think. One reason why onion soup has never lost its popularity is that you can get plenty of flavor from onions and broth without having to add a lot of other ingredients. Here are the top five reasons why making your own onion soup is a great idea:

1. Homemade Onion Soup Has the Best Flavor

One reason why making your own onion soup is a great idea is that canned soups and dehydrated soups are so bland when compared to homemade soup. Nothing beats freshly made onion soup!

2. Easy French Onion Soup is Suitable for Beginner Cooks

There are easy recipes for onion soup and French onion soup so do not worry if you are new to cooking because anyone can follow these easy onion soup recipes.

3. Onion Soup is Economic Yet Delicious

Onions are very cheap yet they are nutritious and bursting with flavor. If you are on a tight budget but you still want to make something tasty for the family, check out some of our onion soup recipes and you will see why this is such a great dish.

4. Onion Soup is Suitable for Everyone

Unless you are allergic to onions or hate their flavor, you can make an onion soup recipe, which suits you. There are vegan onion soup recipes and vegetarian onion soup recipes, which are just as good as classic French onion soup.

5. Onion Soup is Healthy and Nutritious

Onions are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are believed to help prevent cancer and they contain antioxidants, which fight dangerous free radicals. Onion soup is economical, delicious, and healthy, making it the perfect meal!

 

Try These Delicious Onion and French Onion Soup Recipes

Here is just a sampling of our delicious onion soup recipes you'll find plenty more inside the site.

Classic French Onion Soup - French Onion Soup Bowls

How to Make French Onion Soup

Easy French Onion Soup with Parmesan Croutons

French Onion Beef Broth Soup Recipe with Mustard

Traditional English Cream of Onion Soup Recipe

Swanson Chicken Broth Onion Soup Recipe

Julia Childs French Onion Soup

Great Wisconsin Cheese Gifts

Webmaster's Notes:

Welcome to French onion soups we have recently changed the design of the site to better reflect our content and what we are presenting here. French onion soup is a favorite soup in our house and we thought a more elegant and festive design better represented the feel and attitude we wanted our site to convey. We felt this move was necessary because frankly, our recipes are "easy to make" and will impress your family and guest with the wonderful presentations you will be able to make and are great to celebrate with in your own home.

You see we not only love French onion soup in our house but also are passionate about it and food in general and we love experimenting with new taste and flavors but with a family of six time and simplicity are vital for things to run smooth. We have been running French onion soup for a little over a year and a half now but the site is older than that we just wanted it to reflect our passion for food. We just felt it needed to be cleaned up; great French onion soup does not need to be difficult in fact, some of the best ones are the most simple and easy to make.

We hope you like the site upgrade, the new recipes, and onion soup cooking articles. Over the next several weeks, we have loads of new content to add to the site so check back often to see what is new. Our goal here is not only to make this the best site we can but also to make it the preeminent French onion soup recipe site on the web. Thanks, for visiting and if you have a moment please bookmark us in your favorite social bookmarking site we appreciate the vote of confidence it helps us focus our resources on what you really want great content.