French onion soup
Slowly cooking the onions is one of the most important steps in order for them to gently caramelize and infuse the broth with all of their natural sweetness.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 50 g butter
- 1 kg onions halved and thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove pressed
- small bunch of thyme plus 4 small sprigs for the toasts
- 1 tsp raw cane sugar
- Fine sea salt & freshly cracked pepper
- 1½ tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1½ tbsps Armagnac
- 1 litre strong beef stock
- 4-6 thick slices of sourdough bread
- Handful of Gruyère freshly grated
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed soup pan over a gentle heat.
- Add the onions, garlic, thyme, sugar and a little salt and pepper. Stir, place a lid on the pan and allow everything to cook for 1 hour. Stir occasionally.
- Stir in the flour and cook for three minutes. Turn up the heat, add the Armagnac and follow with the stock.
- Allow the soup to cook for an additional 10 minutes, without the lid. Taste and correct the seasoning.
- To make the croutons: Put the pieces of bread on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Top each piece with grated cheese and a sprig of thyme. Place under a hot grill for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!
- Divide the soup over the bowls and top with a piece of toast.
Notes
Looking for a simpler way to cook this? Pop the ingredients listed on step 2 into your slow cooker on a low heat in the morning, and when you come back in the evening, carry on with the rest of the steps below, for a quick and easy evening meal.