French Onion Soup

  • Prep 20 min
  • Total 1 hr 30 min
  • Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 medium onions
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed beef broth
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 4 oz Gruyère, Swiss or mozzarella cheese
  • 4 slices (3/4 to 1 inch thick) French bread
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps

  • 1
    Peel and cut the onions into slices to measure 4 cups. In a 4-quart nonstick Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in onions to coat with butter. Cook uncovered 10 minutes, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes.
  • 2
    Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered 35 to 40 minutes longer, stirring well every 5 minutes, until onions are deep golden brown (onions will shrink during cooking).
  • 3
    Stir in broth, water, pepper, thyme and bay leaf. Heat to boiling over high heat. Once mixture is boiling, reduce heat just enough so mixture bubbles gently. Cover with lid; simmer 15 minutes. Meanwhile, shred the Gruyère cheese by rubbing it across the largest holes of a grater to measure 1 cup; set aside.
  • 4
    You may need to move the oven rack so it is near the broiler. Set the oven control to broil. On a cookie sheet, place the bread slices. Broil with tops about 5 inches from heat 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Turn bread over; broil 1 to 2 minutes longer until golden brown. Place toasted bread in 4 ovenproof bowls or individual ceramic casseroles (do not use glass, which cannot withstand heat of broiler and may break).
  • 5
    Remove bay leaf from soup. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with Gruyère cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place bowls in pan with shallow sides.
  • 6
    Broil soup bowls with tops about 5 inches from heat 1 to 2 minutes or just until cheese is melted and golden brown. Watch carefully so cheese does not burn. Serve with additional French bread if desired.

  • Gruyere cheese is a rich, nutty, buttery-tasting form of Swiss cheese with fewer and smaller holes.
  • Golden Onion Soup: Omit French bread and cheeses; do not broil.
  • Do not use glass containers; they cannot withstand the heat from the broiler and may break.
  • The long, slow cooking of the onions gives this soup its rich caramelized-onion flavor and color.
  • Be sure to remove the bay leaf after simmering the soup. It is very dry and brittle and will not soften during cooking so it isn't edible.
  • Gruyère cheese is a rich, nutty, buttery-tasting form of Swiss, without the holes. It becomes smooth and creamy when melted.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
450
Calories from Fat
170
Total Fat
19g
29%
Saturated Fat
11g
53%
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
50mg
17%
Sodium
1390mg
58%
Potassium
450mg
13%
Total Carbohydrate
46g
15%
Dietary Fiber
4g
16%
Sugars
6g
Protein
24g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
10%
10%
Vitamin C
6%
6%
Calcium
45%
45%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
2 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 2 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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