This recipe for French Onion Soup reveals clever tips and substitution options to make your own, heart-warming version of the classic comfort dish. Includes vegan variation. {Jump to Recipe}
What do you associate with French onion soup—warming up after playing outside in the winter, spending a romantic night out with your special someone, savoring the classic dish during a trip to France? Whatever your mind drifts to when you think of French onion soup, I’m sure it’s heart-warming thoughts. I can hardly think of any other soup that so comforting, hearty, and satisfying to eat.
Classic French onion soup comes together in two main steps: the caramelization of the onions, and the simmering of the soup. The first step—the caramelization of the onions—is the most important one. It’s the step that builds the foundation of the soup and creates the sweet, enticing, deep flavors of the dish. Much as you must take your time while eating a bowl of French onion soup in order to fully appreciate it, you can’t rush the onion caramelization process.
During the first 30 minutes, the sliced onions will release their water, which will reduce their volume considerably and make them tender. When the excess water is evaporated, the caramelization process starts, and it needs to happen slowly but steadily. Keep the heat low throughout this process, and stir the onions every 5 minutes or so. This will prevent the onions from sticking to the bottom of the pot and allow them to cook slowly and evenly. The onions will gradually change color, first turning golden yellow and eventually golden brown. The caramelization process takes between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the heat and the cooking pot you’re using. The onions don’t need to be very dark by the end of the cooking time, but they should be melty, translucent, and sweet.
After the caramelization is done, it’s just a matter of stirring in the remaining ingredients and leaving the soup to simmer for an additional hour. The full process of making French onion soup thus takes about 2 hours, but it’s a mostly hands-off task. Plus, this recipe makes a big batch, and French onion soup freezes wonderfully, so your efforts will be rewarded for meals to come. Continue Reading
