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Reine Elizabeth Hotel Onion Soup au Gratin Recipe Montreal

A deliciously fragrant and flavorful white onion soup is famous at the Reine Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Winter can be unforgiving in Canada and a dish of hot French onion soup is perfect for warming you up. This wonderful French onion soup recipe is gratinated, or served "au gratin," which means it is broiled until the croutons on top are wonderfully crispy and the melted cheese is hot and runny.

At gala parties and other events where the champagne or wine flow freely, a couple of glasses are often added to the French onion soup recipe. Some recipes for French onion soup call for other alcohol to be added and this can be anything from cider to brandy, sherry, or even whisky, depending on the recipe. Wine and liquor are not essential to making a good French onion soup recipe but some people like the deeper flavor that wine or liquor gives the soup.

French onion soup cheese varies, although Gruyere is the traditional choice. Parmesan and gruyere are a great combination and you can serve the following Reine Elizabeth Hotel onion soup au gratin recipe Montreal with extra parmesan on the side, for people to add more if they wish. French onion soup can be enjoyed after a night out or even as a warming lunch on a cool day. In fact, it is too good to be saved only for cool days and can be enjoyed in any weather! There are onion soup recipes for every occasion so, if you do not fancy a traditional French onion soup recipe, what about trying an Asian onion soup, a vegetable rich onion soup, or a lighter variation of French onion soup, where chicken broth replaces the beef broth?

French Onion Soup au Gratin with Gruyere and Parmesan

Ingredients -

5 white onions, sliced
5 tablespoons butter
1 quart bouillon, made with 5 bouillon cubes
1 quart consommé or stock
˝ cup champagne or dry white wine (optional)
12 slices toasted baguette slices
1 cup grated gruyere cheese
˝ cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Heat the butter in a heavy bottomed pan until it melts, and then add the onions.

Pour the stock or consommé over the top, add the bouillon and season with a pinch of salt and a dash of black pepper.

Add some champagne or dry white wine if you want to.

Let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes over a medium low heat, then adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Transfer the soup to French onion soup crocks.

Top each one with a couple of baguette slices and sprinkle all the gruyere over the top.

Sprinkle half the parmesan over the top.

Place the soup bowls on a baking sheet and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve the rest of the parmesan cheese on the side, so people can take more if they like.

(Serves 6)