FRENCH ONION SOUP
It’s funny how something so simple can be so decadent!
Of course Julia Child is the inspiration for most of today’s versions, my version is also inspired by her method. And just wait until you see what wine goes with this soup!
This is one of my favorite soup indulgences. A perfect meal is a big bubbling bowl with a thick slice of bread capping the bowl with ooey-gooey cheese melted on top, add a bright vibrant salad and VOILA!
Here’s what you need:
Four sweet yellow onions, sliced
8 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil heated in a large sauté pan
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup white wine (a fruity red will work too)
2 tablespoons flour
8 cups heated beef broth
¼ cup cognac
Fresh minced thyme
2 bay leaves
Rustic bread loaf, sliced into thick sliced, buttered and toasted
Grated gruyère
“Wait until you see what wine goes with this soup!”
METHOD
And here’s how you make the soup:
Sauté the onions in butter/olive oil until soft and turning translucent
When done sautéing, add sugar, wine and de-glaze pan, reduce heat to med-low and continue to cook until turning a deep mahogany color of caramelized onions. When done, stir in flour
Add caramelized onions to soup pot and add heated broth, cognac, fresh thyme, and bay leaves. Bring pot to low-simmer and cook approximately 20-30 mins. Adjust seasoning with salt
Spoon soup into oven proof soup bowls/ramekins. Top soup with toasted bread and generously scatter with grated cheese.
Place soup bowls under broiler until cheese is bubbly and edges are starting to turn brown
Add a dash of cognac and sprinkle with some minced thyme!
WINE PAIRING
Lorenzi Family Estate 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a rich, balanced Cabernet with black cherries, berries, herbaceous notes of mint, and eucalyptus with a strong solid finish of tobacco box and dark chocolate.
The rich robust savoury/sweetness of the soup brings out all the right notes in this wine. The butter used in the soup creates a nice mouth feel taming the tannins in the wine and allowing the fruit to shine.
Lorenzi is offering amazing discounts and reduced shipping costs during this time of physical distancing and sheltering. Visit them at Lorenzi Estate Wines.