Homemade French Onion Soup

This quick and easy recipe for Homemade French Onion Soup is a great recipe for entertaining on a budget.

Ingredients - French Onion Soup

4 large Spanish white onions
A level teaspoon of brown sugar
3 garlic cloves crushed
50g / 2oz butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
A large glass dry white wine
2 pints good quality beef stock (fresh if possible)
1 - 2 tablespoons brandy
Maldon salt and freshly milled black pepper

Ingredients - Melting Gruyere Toast

6 thick slices of French bread
284g/10oz gruyere cheese, grated
salt and pepper
10g / ½oz flat leaf parsley

To serve - 6 fireproof soup tureens (optional)

Method

If you're cooking this soup for a dinner party we would recommend making the day before. The flavours are enhanced and you will have more preparation time for other dishes.

1. You need a good heavy pan for this. Peel your onions, cut in two and then slice as thinly as you can. Melt the butter and oil over a medium heat until melted then add the onions. Stir well so they are all coated in butter then turn the heat to low. Add the crushed garlic and sugar and stir. The next bit is important. The onions need to caramelize by leaving them on the low heat but stirring very occasionally. You don't want to "fry" them. They will slowly turn golden - it could take an hour.
2. Once happy with the onions, add the wine, stock, a good pinch of salt and black pepper (and the brandy if using), stir and let simmer for at least an hour to reduce. This will improve the flavour.
3. Once you are ready to serve, toast the bread and top with the grated cheese and place under the grill until the cheese is melted.
4. Keeping the soup in the pan, top with the sliced bread and a sprinkle of cheese. Place under the grill until it turns brown and the cheese has melted.
5. Scatter with the fresh chopped flat leaf parsley and serve individually at the table.

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