Description
Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée is a classic French onion soup featuring richly caramelized onions simmered in beef broth and white wine, topped with crusty baguette slices and melted Gruyère cheese. This comforting dish is finished under the broiler to achieve a golden, bubbly cheese crust, perfect as a hearty appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Onions and Butter
- 4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
Liquid Ingredients
- 6 cups beef broth
- ½ cup dry white wine
Toppings
- 1 fresh baguette, sliced
- 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese
Instructions
- Slice the Onions: Thinly slice the yellow onions to ensure they caramelize evenly during cooking.
- Caramelize the Onions: In a large pot, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and stir frequently, cooking until they become golden brown, approximately 20-25 minutes. This slow cooking brings out the natural sweetness of the onions.
- Deglaze the Pot: Pour in the dry white wine to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot for added flavor.
- Simmer the Soup: Add the beef broth to the pot and bring to a simmer. Let it cook gently for 15-20 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Toast the Baguette: Meanwhile, toast the baguette slices until they are golden brown and crisp, providing a perfect texture contrast for the soup.
- Assemble and Broil: Ladle the hot soup into oven-safe bowls. Top each bowl with toasted baguette slices and generously sprinkle with grated Gruyère cheese. Place bowls under a broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese melts, bubbles, and turns a light golden brown.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent onions from burning during caramelization.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute beef broth with vegetable broth and use a vegetarian cheese.
- Watch the soup closely while broiling to avoid burning the cheese.
- The soup can be prepared ahead by caramelizing onions and simmering broth; assemble and broil just before serving.
- Dry white wine adds acidity and depth; alternatives like vermouth or no wine can be used if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1 cup)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
