French Onion Soup
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.
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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)
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
French Onion Soup Recipes
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...
Onion Soup
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...
French Onion Soup Copy Cat Recipes
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...
Beef Consommé - Beef Broth Recipes
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...
Onion Soup Articles
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
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
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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.
A Delicious Guide to the History of Onion Soup
Onion soup developed simultaneously in different countries. This vegetable grows easily in many types of soil and is available all over the world, so onion has been a staple in many international recipes for a long time.
Old fashioned onion soup recipes consisted of little more than onions and some type of broth or seasoned water and a lot of modern onion soup recipes have not changed all that much. Of course, we have more technology these days and we have access to crockpot recipes, microwave recipes and more, while our ancestors had to be content with a soup pot and a flame.
How French Onion Soup was Created
According to legend, the first French onion soup was developed by King Louis XV of France. He wanted a snack late one evening but only had butter, onions, and champagne in his hunting lodge pantry.
According to the tale, he combined these ingredients and created the first French onion soup. Nobody knows for sure whether or not this tale is true but it is a nice story.
Modern French Onion Soup
The onions in modern French onion soup recipe are caramelized slowly until the sugars come out and become golden brown. You can caramelize onions in half an hour but a lot of chefs like to do it slowly and bring out the more complex flavors. Cognac is often added to the onion soup in the final stages of cooking.
There are variations in the classic French soup recipe including the use of water or vegetable broth for vegetarians or using a vegan cheese instead of Gruyere for vegans. Some chefs like to brown tails or necks to render the fat for sautéing the onions. This adds a rich, meaty flavor to the French onion soup recipe.
Continued >>> French Onion Soup History
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Why Onion Soup is Wonderfully Unique
There are hundreds of different soup recipes available these days, as well as a wide range of canned and dehydrated soup mixes. Soup has been around for thousands of years but we have never had as much choice as we do now.
Interestingly enough, onion soup is one of the oldest recipes in existence and it is still as popular today as it ever has been. French onion soup is quite a simple recipe but this soup has stayed well loved for thousands of years.
The Inimitable Flavor of Onion Soup
The original recipe might have changed quite a bit but French onion soup is a real classic and will never go out of vogue. A French onion soup recipe is unique in that it combines beef broth and onion for a complex flavor. These simple ingredients suit each other so well and the traditionally French bread and melted cheese topping finishes the dish off beautifully.
Onion soup blends the sweet and savory, the soft and crunchy and the strong flavored with mild flavors. Onion soup is an enigma because it is one of the most easy dishes to prepare but the flavors are clever, complex and an easy French onion soup recipe makes a wonderful appetizer for a dinner party or a tasty treat for the family.
French onion soup cannot be imitated with packet mixes because it needs to be made with fresh ingredients for the best results. This is an economic soup, which is simple to make, and a nutrient packed, delicious meal for the whole family.
Different Kinds of Onion Soup around the World
You might associate onion soup with France and it is true that French onion soup is the best known onion soup variety but there are many more ways to make onion soup and there are plenty of varieties of French onion soup in France as well.
Tasty Onion Soup in Europe
Spanish onion soup is popular in South America as well as Spain and this onion soup recipe contains skirt steak, sherry, garlic and more for a rich and full bodied soup. Italian style onion soup recipes are often topped with parmesan and mozzarella instead of the Gruyere cheese traditionally used in a French onion soup recipe.
In England, sage is a traditional herb to use in onion flavored dishes and a dash of Worcestershire sauce can add flavor to onion soup as well. Cheddar cheese is used in English onion soup, also Gruyere and other kinds of Swiss cheese are nice too. The English often use chicken broth instead of beef broth but both kinds are good with the Cheddar topping.
For a very English tasting soup, you could use Stilton (or a mild blue cheese) instead of Gruyere. Stilton melts nicely and permeates through the whole soup, rather than sitting on top like a garnish. Swap the sage for tarragon and you will have a delicious winter warmer recipe, which smells wonderful and tastes even better.
Deliciously Different Onion Soup Recipes
Traditional German onion soup is very clear with a pinkish hue and contains marjoram and white wine. Small circles of bread, parmesan, and fresh marjoram make up the topping for German onion soup. Onion soup in the Czech Republic usually contains beer and garlic for flavor.
Mexicans also like to add beer to their onion soup recipes as well as lime juice and chili peppers. The topping is more likely to be crispy tortilla chips than toasted French bread. Chicken broth or beef broth can be used for a Mexican style French onion soup and Jack cheese or spiced cheese is the perfect topping.
Indian onion soup is usually made with vegetable broth because slaughtering cows is taboo in India. Chicken broth is a viable alternative and Indian onion soup recipes are usually kept simple, with flour used as a thickener and salt, pepper and garlic used for flavor.
The Scandinavians like onion soup recipes and if you are visiting Denmark or Norway you might find yourself enjoying onion soup made with white wine and flavored with Camembert or Brie.
It seems strange how the Scandinavians use French cheese on their onion soup but the French use Swiss cheese!
Onion Soup Recipes with Meat
Onion soup does not have to be a strictly vegetarian dish and, since most onion soup recipes use beef broth as a base, it is not vegetarian anyway.
African onion soup often features such delicacies as ostrich steak or chunks of juicy beef. Some French onion soup recipes feature some crispy bacon crumbled over the top, along with the cheese, for a meaty and salty flavor.
If you are making a French onion soup recipe at home, feel free to add some beef, chicken, or fish to the recipe. As long as the herbs, spices and any other flavors you add support the flavor of the meat then it will go nicely and make the soup heartier.
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Find additional " French onion soup recipes" on our French onion soup recipe index page just look through our onion soup categories to find that perfect onion soup to start off your dinner tonight. Whether that be a wonderful classic French onion soup or a tasty easy onion soup recipe with exotic flavors and spices. We have everything you could ever need to know about making a great French onion soup or an alternative onion soup recipe to great onion soup cooking tips and articles you will need to help you get the most out of your next dinner party with a wonderfully elegant onion soup presentation.
Useful Onion Soup Cooking Tips
Onion soup and French onion soup might be easy to make but it is always handy to have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve to make the preparation even easier and make the resulting soup even more delicious.
How to Caramelize Onions
- Caremelization happens when the natural sugars in the onion break down and turn into a sweet, golden brown substance. One of the most common problems when making a French onion soup recipe is that people tend to either undercook the onions or overcook them.
- The best way to cook the onions for a French onion soup recipe is to sauté the onion slices in butter, oil or a mixture of both. Add a little salt because this helps to draw the moisture out of the onions. A tip is to add a little water to the pan to create steam because this raises the temperature of the onions and speeds up the process. Do this before the butter or oil gets too hot.
- If the onions are sticking to the pan, turn the heat down else they will burn. Onions caramelize at about 350 degrees F so keep cooking them and stirring them and they should caramelize perfectly, which is necessary for the best French onion soup.
Topping Tips
- You might like to rub a raw garlic clove over the toast before adding the cheese for extra flavor. Before broiling the French onion soup, make sure the rack is near the top of the oven, so the bowls will be a few inches under the element. It is safer to do this before the oven is switched on.
- There is plenty more you need to know if you want to learn how to make the best French onion soup but the above tips should ensure your onions are tasty and juicy and your topping is flavorful.
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Onion Soup Facts and Onion Facts
Onion soup is a healthy and delicious recipe and there are lots of different recipes for onion soup and French onion soup that you can easily make at home. The next time you serve homemade onion soup to your family, you can surprise them with the following onion soup facts:
Onions and their Interesting History
- Onions date back to 3500 BC and it is believed they grew wild on every continent.
- Our ancestors grew onions for food because they were easy to grow, tasted good, and did not spoil during the winter months.
- The ancient Egyptians worshipped onions because its spherical shape represented eternity.
- Today, onions are the sixth most popular vegetable crop grown worldwide.
- An old English rhyme claims that the thickness of an onionskin tells you what kind of winter is coming. A thin skin means the winter will be mild and a thick skin means it will be severe.
Onion World Records and Statistics
- There are more than two million metric tons of onions produced in the United States every year.
- About 105 billion pounds of onions are produced globally every year.
- The average American eats nearly 19 lbs of onions each year.
- More onions are eaten in Libya than any other country. A surprising 67 lbs of onions are eaten per person per year.
- More than 75% of the onions produced in the world are yellow onions.
- The official state vegetable of Texas is the Texas Sweet onion and the official state vegetable of Georgia is the Vidalia onion.
- The biggest onion every grown weighted 10 lbs 14 oz and was grown in England.
- Onion consumption in the United States has risen by 50% over the past twenty years.
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