Homemade French Onion Soup

(55)
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pats

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 pounds yellow onions, cut in half lengthwise and sliced ¼-inch thick

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup dry sherry

  • 3 1/2 cups homemade beef stock

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

  • Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 small French baguette, sliced on a bias into ¾-inch thick pieces

  • 12 ounces medium-hard cheese, such as a combination of Gruyere, Fontina, or Swiss, grated on the large holes of a box grater (about 1 ½ cups)

Directions

  1. Melt butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add onions. Spread them out in as thin a layer as possible. Sprinkle with sugar, and cook, stirring as needed to keep onions from sticking, until they are melting and soft, golden brown, and beginning to caramelize, about 1 hour.

  2. Sprinkle flour over onions, and stir to coat. Add sherry, stock, and thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, for about 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  3. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Arrange bread on a rimmed baking sheet and broil until deep-golden brown on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side; set aside.

  4. Ladle 1 cup hot soup into four 13-ounce ramekins or ovenproof bowls. Arrange the bowls on a rimmed baked sheet. Place 2 slices of toasted bread over each bowl of soup to cover the surface of the soup completely. Sprinkle 3 ounces grated cheese over bread in each bowl, and place under broiler until cheese is melted and crusty brown around the edges. Watch carefully that bread doesn't burn. Serve immediately.

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