French Onion Soup
Easy Panera Bread Onion Soup Recipes
Panera bread onion soup recipes are always worth making because they are so tasty. The following recipe is from one of the Panera bread cookbooks. If you do not want to make so much you can halve this recipe without any problems.
This version of French onion soup uses beef broth and red wine for a rich, hearty flavor and a combination of shallots, red onions, yellow onions, and scallions for a really great onion flavor with plenty of depth.
The topping for this French onion soup is Gruyere with scallion green over crisp bread croutons. Panera bread onion soup recipes tend to be packed with flavor and this recipe is likely to become a firm favorite if you enjoy making and eating onion soup.
Panera Bread Onion Soup with Gruyere and Scallions
Ingredients -
6 shallots, sliced
3 big yellow onions, sliced lengthwise
1 bottle red wine
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3 leeks, halved lengthwise then sliced across (white part only)
3 cups scallions (keep the greens for croutons), sliced
3 red onions, sliced
1 cup Gruyere cheese
1 baguette, sliced
6 quarts beef broth
12 sprigs thyme, in 4 inch lengths
Salt and black pepper
Preparation:
Sauté the shallots, onions, scallions whites, garlic, leeks and some salt in 2 tablespoons of oil in a 12 quart stockpot until the onions start to caramelize.
Deglaze with the red wine, and then add the broth and thyme.
Bring the soup to a boil then turn down the heat and let it simmer for an hour.
Adjust the seasoning.
Preheat the broiler and toss the bread slices in the remaining oil.
Put them on a sheet pan.
Toss the Gruyere with the scallion greens and top each bread slice with this mixture.
Bake the bread on a rack in the center of the oven for a few minutes then transfer them closer to the broiler to brown the tops.
Ladle the onion soup into bowls and top with the bubbling cheese croutons.
(Serves 6)
What are Shallots?
Shallots are a close relative of the onion family, with a very mild flavor. Many French sauces are made by first reducing dry white wine with finely chopped shallots. Shallots are a lot milder than onions, so replacing them with onions in a recipe should be done with care. Likewise, shallots lack the necessary bold flavor of onions for French onion soup. Brittany and Normandy, as well as Ontario and Quebec, are well known for their delicious shallots.
The Importance of Onions
A lot of people treat onions as a lowly cooking ingredient but onions are truly unique. Imagine a hot dog without fried onions or a cheese and onion pie without any onion in it. French chefs are aware of how important onions are. Have you heard of French pea soup or French bean soup? It is French onion soup, which is famous all over the world, and nothing beats the flavor of sweet, juicy, caramelized onions.
Mouthwatering Panera Bread Onion Soup Recipes
There are different types of Panera bread, which you can use on top of your French onion soup. There are Panera artisan breads, foccacia, country style bread and even a Panera French baguette bread you can use to top your easy French onion soup recipe in the traditional style. The bread you use to finish off your French onion soup recipe is up to you and lightly toasting it gives the best result.