Creamy White Onion Soup

By LRay

Bon Appetit, September 2013, page 153.

Ingredients

• PICKLED SHALLOTS
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced into rounds
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• RED ONIOIN JAM
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 star anise pod
• 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/8 tsp. ground allspice
• WHITE ONION SOUP
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 large white onions, thinly sliced
• 1 leek, white and pale-green parts only, thinly sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 serrano chile, seeded, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. chopped peeled ginger
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup mirin
• 1 cup heavy cream
• FONTINA TOAST AND ASSEMBLY
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 2 slices brioche, quartered
• 4 oz. Fontina cheese, grated
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from bonappetit.com

Preparation

Step 1

PICKLED SHALLOTS

Place shallots in a small nonreactive bowl. Bring vinegars, sugar, and 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour over shallots; chill.

DO AHEAD: Shallots can be pickled 5 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

RED ONION JAM

Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring often, until soft, 5–7 minutes. Add wine, vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, star anise, red pepper flakes, and allspice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is thickened and syrupy, 40–45 minutes.

DO AHEAD: Jam can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

WHITE ONION SOUP

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, leek, celery, garlic, chile, and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring often, until soft (do not let brown), 10–12 minutes.

Add wine and mirin to pot, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and translucent, 25–30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth. Strain into a large bowl and stir in cream (thin with water, if needed); season with salt. Reheat soup in a clean pot.

DO AHEAD: Soup can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

FONTINA TOAST AND ASSEMBLY

Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook bread until golden, about 3 minutes (you’ll have 2 extra). Flip, top with cheese, cover, and cook until cheese is melted, about 4 minutes. Top toasts with pickled shallots and chives.

Spoon some jam into each bowl, pour soup around, and top with toasts.