This easy French onion soup recipe is a delicious timeless classic that combines caramelised onions, (meat-free) beef stock, garlicky croutons, and a layer of gooey melted cheese.
A delicious timeless classic, this easy French onion soup recipe combines caramelised onions, (meat-free) beef stock, garlicky croutons, and a layer of gooey melted cheese.
Warming and comforting, this is a staple recipe for us at this time of the year. It’s a crowd-pleaser, that can be prepared in advance.
This recipe requires just a few basic ingredients and a little time and patience. The secret to success is to leave the onions to slowly caramelise in butter and oil.
Once the onions have a jam like consistency (it takes about 30 minutes), I am adding some dry white wine and meat-free beef stock. You can also use vegetable stock but beef stock is more traditional and enhance the overall flavour of the soup. I like Oxo Meat-Free Beef Stock, which you can find in supermarkets. If you eat meat, you can swap the vegan stock for a meat alternative.
No French onion soup is complete without the iconic topping: a slice of crusty bread and a generous amount of cheese. Typically the cheese used in France is Gruyère or Emmental, but grated cheddar works also really well.
While the soup is simmering away, you can make the garlicky croutons.
When you are ready to serve the soup, simply ladle it into individual bowls. Top each bowl with croutons and grated cheese. Place the bowls under the grill, and cook until the cheese has melted. Top with chopped parsley and serve.
Alternatively, you can simply leave the soup in the pan, add the croutons and cheese on top, and place the pan under the grill.
Want to add a little more oomph? A dash of cognac right near the end of cooking time will do the trick!
If you prefer a plant-based alternative, you can easily swap the butter and cheese for dairy-free alternatives.
Here are some other French recipes you might enjoy:
In this post
How to make this easy French onion soup recipe
Ingredients
To make this easy French onion soup recipe, you will need:
- butter (dairy or plant-based)
- olive oil
- yellow onions
- red onions
- garlic cloves
- granulated sugar
- dry white wine
- 1.25 litre beef stock (I used Oxo Meat-Free Beef Stock)
- parsley
FOR THE CROUTONS - day-old baguette
- olive oil
- garlic clove
- grated cheddar cheese (dairy or plant-based)
Step 1: Caramelise the onion
Melt butter and oil in a large stockpot. Add the onions, garlic and sugar. Stir until everything is well combined.Cook under low-medium heat until the onions are completely soft and start to caramelised, about 30 to 35 minutes.
Step 2: Cook the soup
Add the wine and stock. Bring to the boil. Then simmer, covered for 20 minutes.
Step 3: Make the croutons
Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.
Cut the bread into slices and spread the slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Brush the croutons with olive oil on both sides and bake in the oven until golden, about 10 to 12 minutes.
When the croutons are done, leave them to cool down so you can handle them and rub the garlic clove on both sides of each crouton.
Step 4: Melt & Serve
Preheat the grill on high. Ladle the soup in individual bowls. Top each bowl with croutons and grated cheese. Place the bowls under the grill, and cook until the cheese has melted. Top with chopped parsley and serve.
Watch how to make this easy French onion soup recipe
I hope you enjoy this easy French onion soup recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
Easy French Onion Soup Recipe
Equipment
Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.
Ingredients
- 50 g butter
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 400 g yellow onions
- 400 g red onions
- 3 garlic cloves grated
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 250 ml dry white wine
- 1.25 litre beef stock (I used Oxo Meat-Free Beef Stock)
- 4 Tbsp chopped parsley
FOR THE CROUTONS
- day-old baguette
- olive oil
- 1 garlic clove peeled
- grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter and oil in a large stockpot50 g butter, 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Add the onions, garlic and sugar. Stir until everything is well combined.Cook under low-medium heat until the onions are completely soft and start to caramelised, about 30 to 35 minutes.400 g yellow onions, 400 g red onions, 3 garlic cloves, 1 tsp granulated sugar
- Add the wine and stock.250 ml dry white wine, 1.25 litre beef stock
- Bring to the boil. Then simmer, covered for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Cut the bread into slices and spread the slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.day-old baguette
- Brush the croutons with olive oil on both sides and bake in the oven until golden, about 10 to 12 minutes.olive oil
- When the croutons are done, leave them to cool down so you can handle them and rub the garlic clove on both sides of each crouton.1 garlic clove
- Preheat the grill on high.
- Ladle the soup in individual bowls. Top each bowl with croutons and grated cheese.grated cheddar cheese
- Place the bowls under the grill, and cook until the cheese has melted.
- Top with chopped parsley and serve.4 Tbsp chopped parsley
Video
Nutrition
Find this recipe online:
https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/easy-french-onion-soup/
I cannot wait to see your posts!
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