French onion soup is a culinary masterpiece – a symphony of sweet onions, toasty bread, and melted cheese that embodies comfort food at its finest. However, the thought of making it at home can seem daunting. But fear not, because this simple recipe from BBC Good Food, backed by over 170 five-star ratings, makes this classic dish surprisingly easy to recreate in your own kitchen.
Get ready to savor the rich flavors and aromas that define this iconic soup. The key to a truly delicious French onion soup lies in the perfect caramelization of the onions. This recipe guides you through the process step-by-step, ensuring your onions achieve that deep golden color and exquisite sweetness.
The recipe starts with a generous amount of butter and olive oil, which create a base for the onions to cook in. The onions are then slowly caramelized, developing a rich and complex flavor profile. Adding a touch of sugar enhances their natural sweetness, creating a balance that is truly irresistible.
For added depth of flavor, garlic cloves are added towards the end of the cooking process, infusing the soup with a subtle aromatic complexity. A simple flour roux is then incorporated, thickening the soup and providing a velvety texture.
Next comes the broth. This recipe utilizes a rich beef stock, giving the soup a deep savory flavor. Dry white wine is also added, lending a touch of brightness and complexity to the broth. The soup then simmers gently, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.
To assemble this comforting masterpiece, slices of baguette are toasted to perfection under the grill. Then, the soup is ladled into heatproof bowls, and each bowl is crowned with a slice or two of toasted bread, followed by a generous heap of grated Gruyère cheese. The magic happens when the cheese melts under the grill, creating a gooey, cheesy topping that perfectly complements the rich flavors of the soup.
With this easy-to-follow recipe, you can recreate the magic of French onion soup in your own kitchen. So gather your ingredients, embrace the simplicity of this classic dish, and enjoy the warmth and comfort that only a truly delicious French onion soup can provide.
