Ingredients

Soup

1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
8 cups sweet Vidalia onions (about 4 medium), peeled, halved lenghtwise, thinly sliced
2 tbsp of minced garlic
3 bay leaves
1 small bunch of sprigs thyme, tied with twine
1 cup dark beer (stout) or dry white wine
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 L (4 cups) beef broth
1 tbsp sea salt
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar

Topping

day-old baguette
garlic butter (recipe below)
comté, gruyère or swiss cheese
chopped parsley

Preparation

Step 1:

In a large Dutch oven or large pot (preferably non-stick), melt butter on medium heat and add oil. Add onions and stir occasionally keeping the heat on medium. When onions start to softened, add minced garlic, bay leaves and thyme.

Step 2:

Cook onions on medium to low heat for about 30-45 min, stirring occasionally so onions don’t stick or burn. The end result should be a light brown colour:

Step 3:

Add beer (or wine) and balsamic vinegar. Raise heat to high and cook until liquid has evaporated 3/4 of the way.

Step 4:

Add beef broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Add salt, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and fresh cracked pepper. Discard thyme bunch and bay leaves.

Step 5:

Garlic butter:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature or 20 seconds in Microwave
3 tbsp margarine
4 garlic cloves, minced
chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste

In a stand-up mixer using the whip attachment, whip butter, margarine and garlic. Add parsley, salt and pepper. Keeps in refrigerated.

Step 6:

Garlic Croutons:

Cut baguette into croutons and place on baking tray. Spread garlic butter on each croutons and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F. Store in the fridge for 2 weeks or can be kept in the freezer for up to a year.

Step 7:

Assembling Soup:

Set oven at Broil (500°F). Pour soup in oven-safe bowls. Top soups with croutons and add grated or thinly sliced Swiss cheese to cover the croutons. Place bowls on top rack of the oven and let broil until cheese has bubbled and browned. Bon Appétit!

Dec 4 French Onion Soup