Classic French Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese Toast: The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe
There’s nothing quite like a hearty, warming bowl of French Onion Soup to chase away the winter chill or to provide a deeply satisfying lunch. This classic recipe elevates the experience with a trifecta of caramelized onions, a rich broth infused with red wine and sherry, and, of course, a glorious gratinéed Gruyère cheese toast. The slow caramelization of the onions unlocks an incredible natural sweetness and depth, creating a flavor profile that is truly irresistible. Paired with a crusty baguette slice, generously topped with melted Gruyère cheese, this soup isn’t just a meal – it’s an embrace in a bowl. Prepare to savor every last, delicious bite!
The Magic of Authentic French Onion Soup
When the craving for true comfort food strikes, especially in the form of a soul-warming soup, my mind instantly drifts to a perfectly crafted French Onion Soup. While there are quicker versions, like an easy onion soup with just six ingredients, or even a delightful beer onion soup, for that deeply rich and complex flavor that truly defines this classic, this particular recipe is my go-to. It’s a culinary journey that promises an unparalleled depth of taste.
What makes this French onion soup truly exceptional is the thoughtful combination of three distinct onion varieties, each slowly caramelized to achieve a profound, sweet essence. This foundational sweetness is then beautifully complemented by a velvety smooth broth, enhanced with the nuanced flavors of red wine and sherry. The final, glorious touch is a slice of crusty baguette, generously topped with Gruyère cheese and broiled until golden and bubbly. As it rests atop the hot soup, the bread graciously absorbs all the savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, transforming into an utterly irresistible component of the dish.
This recipe, a slightly adapted version from Maaike’s blog, “The Answer Is Food,” brings together the best techniques and ingredients to create a truly memorable French Onion Soup experience.
What You Need: Ingredients for This Red Onion Soup with Sherry
Crafting this exquisite Red Onion Soup with Cheese Toast requires a selection of quality ingredients that work in harmony to build its signature flavor. Below is a detailed list of what you’ll need. Precise quantities can be found in the comprehensive recipe card located at the conclusion of this article.
Key Ingredients for the French Onion Soup Base
- Red Onion, Shallot, and Yellow Onion – The very soul of our soup. Using a mix of these three types adds layers of flavor and sweetness. We’ll be slowly sautéing and caramelizing them until they turn wonderfully sweet and deeply golden brown, a process crucial for the soup’s rich taste.
- Unsalted Butter and All-Purpose Flour – These two form the base of our roux, which subtly thickens the soup and gives it body. It’s essential to cook this butter-flour mixture for at least 2 minutes, stirring constantly, to ensure no raw flour taste lingers in your finished soup.
- Fresh Garlic – A small but mighty addition, garlic infuses the soup with an aromatic depth that perfectly complements the caramelized onions.
- Granulated Sugar – A touch of sugar helps to jumpstart and enhance the natural caramelization process of the onions, contributing to the soup’s slight, delightful sweetness.
- Beef or Vegetable Stock – This forms the liquid foundation of our soup. While vegetable stock works beautifully and can be either store-bought cubes or a delicious homemade vegetable stock, traditional French Onion Soup often uses rich beef broth. Feel free to choose based on your preference or dietary needs; both yield fantastic results.
- Red Wine and Dry Sherry – These alcoholic components are not just for flavor; they deglaze the pan, picking up all those flavorful bits stuck to the bottom. They impart a complex, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced sweet-and-sour taste that is fundamental to classic French Onion Soup.
The Ultimate Gruyère Cheese Toast Topping
- Crusty Baguette – Whether you opt for a par-baked or fully baked baguette, slicing it thinly provides the perfect vehicle for soaking up the flavorful soup. These slices are placed on top of the soup and then broiled, ensuring they absorb the exquisite taste of the red onion broth.
- Gruyère Cheese – This full-fat, semi-hard Swiss cheese is the traditional and ideal choice for French Onion Soup. It melts into a beautifully golden, bubbly, and savory crust under the grill. Its robust, nutty flavor stands up wonderfully to the rich, deep flavors of the soup, making this red onion soup extra special and undeniably delicious.
- Fresh Parsley – Added as a vibrant garnish after broiling, fresh chopped parsley offers a touch of color and a fresh, herbaceous counterpoint to the rich soup and cheese.
Step-by-Step: How to Prepare This Exquisite Onion Soup with Gruyère
Preparing this deep and flavorful onion soup is a process that rewards patience and attention to detail. Follow these steps carefully to achieve the best results. A comprehensive, printable recipe with exact measurements and a detailed step-by-step description can be found at the very bottom of this blog post.
- Prepare the Onions: Begin by peeling and thinly slicing all three types of onions (red onion, shallot, and yellow onion) into uniform rings. This ensures even cooking and caramelization.
- Caramelize the Onions: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the unsalted butter over medium-low heat until it’s lightly browned and fragrant. Add the sliced onions and minced garlic. This is the most crucial step: slowly fry the onions, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes, or until they are deeply golden brown, very soft, and wonderfully sweet. Do not rush this process, as it develops the essential flavor base of your soup.
- Create the Roux: Once the onions are perfectly caramelized, sprinkle the all-purpose flour over them. Stir continuously for at least 2 minutes, cooking out the raw flour taste and allowing it to absorb the butter and onion juices, forming a light roux.
- Build the Broth: Gradually pour in the beef or vegetable stock, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Add the granulated sugar and red wine. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let the soup simmer uncovered for 35-40 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen beautifully.
- Finish with Sherry: After the initial simmering, stir in the dry sherry and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste and season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference.
- Prepare for Gratin: Ladle the hot red onion soup into oven-safe bowls. Slice the baguette into thick pieces. For each bowl, place one or two baguette slices directly on top of the soup.
- Broil the Cheese Toast: Generously sprinkle grated Gruyère cheese over each baguette slice. Carefully place the bowls under a preheated grill (broiler) for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling, melted, and beautifully golden brown. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning!
- Garnish and Serve: Carefully remove the hot bowls from the grill. Sprinkle fresh, chopped parsley over the gratinéed cheese toast. Serve your magnificent French Onion Soup immediately, urging your guests to enjoy until the last, savory drop!
Tips for Success & Variations
Mastering French Onion Soup isn’t difficult, but a few pointers can elevate your results:
- Patience with Onions: The most crucial step is caramelizing the onions slowly and thoroughly. This can take 25-30 minutes, sometimes more. Don’t rush it; the deep brown color and sweet flavor are worth the wait.
- The Right Pot: Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to ensure even heating and prevent scorching during caramelization.
- Deglazing: The red wine and sherry are vital for deglazing, scraping up all those flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot. These bits are packed with umami!
- Oven-Safe Bowls: Invest in proper oven-safe, individual crocks or bowls. They retain heat beautifully and are designed for the broiling step.
- Extra Toast Tip: While your soup bowls are under the grill, consider placing a few extra slices of baguette with cheese on a separate baking tray. These make for a fantastic dip alongside your soup, or for those who want an extra cheesy bite!
Serving Suggestions
French Onion Soup is often a meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad dressed with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness. A crisp white wine or a light-bodied red wine would also complement the flavors beautifully.
Storage and Reheating
The beauty of this red onion soup is that it can be prepared ahead of time and stored without the bread. This allows for quick assembly and broiling just before serving, ensuring the cheese toast is perfectly fresh and crispy.
- Refrigerator: Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: For longer storage, cool the soup completely and then pour it into freezer-safe containers, leaving about ¼ inch (½ cm) of headspace as the liquid will expand when frozen. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Gently reheat the thawed or refrigerated soup over low heat on the stovetop until it’s simmering hot. Once hot, ladle into oven-safe bowls, add your fresh baguette and Gruyère, and broil as per the recipe instructions. This ensures a fresh, crispy topping every time.
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 red onion
- 1 shallot
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 500 ml beef stock
- 2 tablespoons red wine
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry
- 1 baguette
- 50 gram Gruyère cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Peel the onions and slice them into rings.1 red onion, 1 shallot, 1 yellow onion
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Heat the butter (until it’s light brown) and fry the garlic and onions until they are shiny and golden.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 clove garlic
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Add the flour and stir until the flour has absorbed the butter.1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
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Add the sugar, stock, and wine, and let everything come to a boil.2 teaspoons sugar, 500 ml beef stock, 2 tablespoons red wine
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Allow to simmer for 35-40 minutes.
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Add the sherry and simmer for another 5 minutes .2 tablespoons dry sherry
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Season the soup with salt and pepper.
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Put the soup in ovenproof bowls
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Cut the baguette into slices.1 baguette
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Put a spoonful of cheese on each piece of bread, put one or two in each bowl of soup, and melt the cheese under the grill.50 gram Gruyère cheese
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Garnish the bread with parsley.1 tablespoon fresh parsley
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Put the bread in the soup bowl and pour the soup over it.
Notes
2. Roux: The butter and flour create a roux that subtly thickens the soup. Be sure to cook this mixture for at least 2 minutes, stirring continuously, to eliminate any raw flour taste and ensure a smooth, delicious broth.
3. Stock Choice: While beef stock is traditional, a good quality vegetable stock can also be used as the base. Whether homemade vegetable stock or store-bought cubes, ensure it has a rich flavor.
4. Chef’s Tip: For an extra treat, place additional baguette slices with Gruyère on a separate baking tray and broil them alongside your soup. These extra cheesy toasts are perfect for dipping into the rich broth!
5. Storage: This red onion soup is best stored without the cheese toast.
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, transfer the soup to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Cool completely, then freeze in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Leave about ½ cm (¼ inch) headspace to allow for expansion. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat the soup gently on the stovetop until simmering. Then, ladle into oven-safe bowls, add fresh baguette slices topped with Gruyère, and broil until golden and bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley.
6. Nutritional Information: The nutritional value provided is an estimate per serving, assuming the soup is served for two people. Please note that values may vary based on exact ingredients and portions, and the calculation may be higher than what is consumed, especially for the Gruyère baguette.
Nutrition
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Explore More Comforting Soup Recipes
If you loved this rich and satisfying French Onion Soup, you’re in for a treat! We have a variety of other delicious soup recipes that are perfect for any occasion, especially when you need a little warmth and comfort. From hearty and filling to light and flavorful, there’s a soup for every palate.
- Chinese Tomato Soup {Dutch-style}
- Hearty Minestrone Soup with Pasta
- French Lentil Soup with Bacon
- Vegetarian Cabbage and Leek Soup
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