
The husband and I LOVE French onion soup. For a while, we had a tradition of trying it at every restaurant we’d visit. The funny thing is neither of us liked the bread part. We just want the broth and lots of it!
So a few years ago, I took my hand at making my own. I have to admit the process is quit fun and surprisingly easy. It’s just takes a bit of time. There is just something about cutting up ALL those onion and reducing them down into this glorious flavorful broth.
I use all different kinds of onions to get the most flavor. Well, that’s a lie. Honestly, the first time I made the soup I didn’t know what kind of onions to use so I got one of each (I truly am an experimenter). I was pleasantly surprised, loved the way the broth came out and still make it like this.
Ingredients
- 5 onion (I use 2 sweet, 1 red, 1 white and 1 yellow)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup (8oz) leftover wine (I’ve used red and white, both work, although I like red better)
- About 2 cups chicken broth (I used leftover turkey broth)
- About 4 cups beef broth (2 cans) (lower sodium fat free preferred)
- 1 tablespoon oat flour or other thickener
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
Instructions
Peel and cut the onion in half. Slice thinly. I normally finely dice the ends to add different sized pieces.
Heat the butter and oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.
Put a layer of onion in the pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add more onion then salt and pepper again. Continuing layering until you run out of onion. Leave the onion alone for about 20 minutes. You will begin to hear it sizzle that’s ok. The temperature is so low the onions won’t burn.
After 20 minutes, stir the onion. Continue to cook the onion on the medium-low heat for at least an hour stirring occasionally. The onion will reduce greatly and start to darken in color.
After an hour, turn the heat up to high. Add the wine and let it boil until it reduces a bit.
Now this is my special trick. Take a ladle full or of the wine onion mixture and place it in the blender. Add the oat flour, dried herbs and blend on high for a second or two. Be sure to take the top off and use a towel when blending hot things.
Add the broth and herb mixture to the pot with remaining onion wine mixture. As for the broth, I use a mixture of beef and chicken totally about 6 cups. If you are using cans, 1 can of chicken and 2 beef would work nicely.
Bring the broth to a boil and then lower to a simmer until ready to serve.
In my house, we still skip the bread but you can add it if you like. For mine I just sprinkle a bit of fancy shredded mozzarella cheese. The husband get’s a thick slice of provolone and puts it under the broiler. Either way it’s good stuff!
📖 Recipe
French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- 5 onion I use 2 sweet, 1 red, 1 white and 1 yellow
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup 8oz leftover wine (I’ve used red and white, both work, although I like red better)
- About 2 cups chicken broth I used leftover turkey broth
- About 4 cups beef broth 2 cans (lower sodium fat free preferred)
- 1 tablespoon oat flour or other thickener
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
Instructions
- Peel and cut the onion in half. Slice thinly. I normally finely dice the ends to add different sized pieces.5 onion
- Heat the butter and oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Put a layer of onion in the pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add more onion then salt and pepper again. Continuing layering until you run out of onion. Leave the onion alone for about 20 minutes. You will begin to hear it sizzle that’s ok. The temperature is so low the onions won’t burn.Salt and pepper
- After 20 minutes, stir the onion. Continue to cook the onion on the medium-low heat for at least an hour stirring occasionally. The onion will reduce greatly and start to darken in color.
- After an hour, turn the heat up to high. Add the wine and let it boil until it reduces a bit.1 cup 8oz leftover wine (I’ve used red and white, both work, although I like red better)
- Now this is my special trick. Take a ladle full or of the wine onion mixture and place it in the blender. Add the oat flour, dried herbs and blend on high for a second or two. Be sure to take the top off and use a towel when blending hot things.
- Add the broth and herb mixture to the pot with remaining onion wine mixture. As for the broth, I use a mixture of beef and chicken totally about 6 cups. If you are using cans, 1 can of chicken and 2 beef would work nicely.About 2 cups chicken broth, About 4 cups beef broth, 1 tablespoon oat flour or other thickener, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 2 dried bay leaves, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- Bring the broth to a boil and then lower to a simmer until ready to serve.
roni
Sally - You are so welcome! Hope you like the lasagna!
I'm pretty sure I just forgot to list the bay leaves when I wrote it out. It's been FOREVER since I made this!
I blend them so I don't have to fish them out later. 🙂
Sally
Oh im also wondering.. Do you also put the bay leaves in the blender with the rest of the dried spices? Thanks!
Sally
Hey Roni! I made a few of your recipes today including this one and i thought it was really great but i think i might have liked it with white wine better.. I have to try it that way next time.. I also added some ditalini pasta and it was REALLY good that way too =]
Thanks for all your great recipes as always.. My menu for the week also includes your roasted cauliflower, spicy black beans and zucchini, zucchini and spaghetti squash lasagna and black bean and corn wontons. I cant wait to try those wontons! I have also been looking at your "lasagna" recipe forever and have felt kind of intimidated by it but im happy to say its in the fridge and ready to go for tomorrows dinner! lol =P
roni
That's a great idea. I was also thinking of some stale whole wheat bread but I'm getting used to it straight up! :~)
Marilyn Riffkin
At a favorite french restaurant of ours they use croutons instead of the bread. We have adopted this variation and it's less points than bread, if you only use a few croutons.
Sabrina
Hey Roni I love French Onion soup I to always ask for no bread when I get it out. I've looked up recipes to make it and it always seemed to take so long. I'm going to try your out and see what my hubby thinks....he's a big fan of your recipes because I cook them all the time. Thanks for all the great ideas.
ps your videos are so cute and so is your son!