French Onion Soup
Easy French Onion Soup with Country Bread Croutons
If you are in a hurry, you can still make a nice French onion soup recipe. The onion soup in this recipe is a simple combination of broth, garlic, onion, and croutons and this is a warming French onion soup, which is ideal for lunch or supper.
You can use any kind of bread you want for the croutons but something like a country loaf with big holes is especially good. Just toast it gently to add a crispy texture.
This is an easy and simple French onion soup. Some French onion soup recipes have different kinds of herbs and alcohols but this one is very plain and you can really taste the sweet tangy onions in the finished onion soup recipe. This recipe is ideal if you like to keep things simply because the soup is fresh and flavorful without being too complex.
Tasty and Fast French Onion Soup
Ingredients -
13 oz red onions, finely sliced
13 oz white onions, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ¾ pints vegetable or beef broth
4 slices country loaf style bread
Preparation:
Heat the oil in a pan and add the onions.
Let them cook on a low heat for 20 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for another 10 minutes.
Add the broth and simmer for 30 minutes with a lid on.
Toast the bread and cut it into cubes.
Scatter the bread over the soup and serve immediately.
(Serves 4)
Photo Description:
This flavorful French onion soup is very easy to make and you will love the flavor of this quick and easy French onion soup recipe. Use vegetable or beef broth as the base and a combination of red and white onions for a sweet, mild, and tangy flavor. The garlic adds flavor and you can make this soup in very little time. You can add grated Gruyere cheese and broil it or just leave it simple. If you like simple French onion soup with onion, garlic, broth and not much more, this is a great onion soup recipe for you. Keeping it uncomplicated means the flavor of the caramelized onions and garlic shines through.
Making Croutons for French Onion Soup
Croutons add a delicious crunch to your French onion soup recipe, as well as plenty of flavor. They also give the French onion soup cheese something to cling to, so it does not sink to the bottom of the bowl. Making croutons for French onion soup is very simple and you can make them while the onions are caramelizing. You can either make small croutons or big ones, depending on the recipe.
Different Types of French Onion Soup Croutons
Sometimes you might want to make big croutons, using a whole slice of bread or half a slice of bread, depending on the size of your soup crocks. At other times, perhaps you want to make traditional croutons, which are small and cube shaped. It depends on the French onion soup recipe you are following and what type of bread you have available to use. You can use whole wheat bread, white bread, rye bread or another kind. French onion soup is traditionally garnished with French baguette croutons and cheese but you can use whichever type of bread appeals to you the most and you can even make your own homemade bread if you like.
How to Make Herb Croutons
Herb croutons are really easy to make and you simply need to toss your bread cubes in a mixture of oil and herbs, and then bake them until they are golden brown. The oil keeps the herbs stuck on the bread. If you are making herb croutons for French onion soup, you might like to use some thyme for the croutons, since the flavor of thyme is wonderful with French onion soup and features in a lot of onion soup recipes. Basil, parsley, rosemary, and cilantro are other favorites.
How Much French Onion Soup Cheese to Use
When you make French onion soup cheese is the final touch. Once the cheese is on the croutons, it is time to broil or bake the soup until the cheese is golden brown and melted. But how much cheese should you use? Some French onion soup recipes tell you to use a handful of cheese - but how much is that? The best way to do it is to grate as much cheese as you think is the right amount. If you can cover the croutons and the top of the soup, you have enough cheese. If you love cheese, use more. Remember you can serve grated parmesan or gruyere on the side when serving your French onion soup, so that real cheese lovers can help themselves to extra.