French Onion Soup is a popular comfort food made with caramelized onions and beef stock. It is often topped with a crouton and melted Swiss cheese. Vegetarian and vegan versions are possible, and canned options are available. In France, it is called Soupe à l’oignon Gratineé.
French Onion Soup is a wonderfully hot soup identified by many as a comfort food. Onions have long been a part of the cuisine and were often identified as a food used by the poor as they kept well, grew easily, and were plentiful. The reason this particular onion soup is labeled French is due to several “origin” myths surrounding its creation. King Louis XV or XIV is said to have created the dish in a hunting lodge after returning from a hunt to find the cupboard bare of much beyond some stale bread, onions and champagne. While the story may be a myth, the soup lasts.
Classic French Onion Soup starts with beef stock. Modern versions may use vegetable or chicken stock, while short-cut versions simply use beef stock, which often results in a very salty soup. The onions are thinly sliced and then caramelized, which allows them to become sweet. They are then added to the heated broth. A little red wine can also be added to the stock to give a richer flavor.
Often, French onion soup is topped with a toasted crouton, then layered with Swiss cheese (typically gruyere). The soup can be placed in copper molds or ovenproof dishes so that the cheese becomes bubbly, brown and melty, when broiled for a minute or two, before serving. When served in large portions, the heart and richness of the soup is a meal in itself. It can also make a delicious soup start when served in smaller portions. Alternatively, consider a meal of French onion soup, salad, and slices of crusty bread.
You can definitely make vegetarian versions of the soup by omitting the beef broth and using a hearty vegetable broth instead. Also, you can use tofu or omit it entirely for vegans. If you don’t have time to chop and caramelize onions, there are some good canned versions of the soup. Amy’s Kitchen makes an excellent canned veggie version that can help you shorten the soup-making process and add cheese and grill right away or just reheat the soup if you prefer the simpler version.
The soup is undoubtedly popular in France, Europe in general, and the United States. Don’t expect if you are in France to order French onion soup. Instead it is usually called Soupe à l’oignon Gratineé. You may also see it listed this way in traditional French restaurants outside France, especially when the menu is written in French.
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