TYLER FORENCE'S ULTIMATE FRENCH ONION SOUP

By bjnelson55

This truly is the "ultimate" in French onion soup -- rich, warming, deeply flavored and topped with buttery toasts and lots of grated cheese.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup + 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 4 onions, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup red wine
• 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 2 quarts beef broth
• 1 baguette or French bread, sliced
• 1/2 lb. Gruyere cheese, grated
• Chopped fresh chives for garnish

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Melt 1/2 cup butter in large pot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Cook until onions are very soft and caramelized, 25 to 35 minutes.

Add wine; bring to boil. reduce heat and simmer until wine has evaporated and onions are dry, 5-10 minutes.

Discard bay leaf and thyme sprigs.

Dust onions with flour and give them a stir. Turn heat down to medium-low so flour doesn't burn.

Cook 10-15 minutes to cook out raw flour taste. Add beef broth; bring soup back to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

When ready to eat, preheat broiler. Arrange bread slices on baking sheet in single layer and brush with remaining butter. Sprinkle with Gruyere and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3-5 minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls and float some of the Gruyere croutons on top. Garnish with chives.

Serves 4-6.