Traditional French Onion Soup (MS)

By LDenvir

Ingredients

• Savor the rich flavor of onion in this warm and satisfying recipe from Michael Rulman's "Ruhlman's Twenty."
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 7 or 8 pounds Spanish onions (about 10 to 15), thinly sliced
• Coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 6 to 12 slices baguette or any other country-style bread, preferably large enough to cover the width of your serving bowls
• 1/3 cup sherry
• Red- or white-wine vinegar (optional)
• Red wine (optional)
• 1/2 to 3/4 pound Gruyere or Emmenthaler cheese, grated

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Place a 7 1/2-quart enameled cast-iron pot over medium heat; melt butter. Add onions and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt; cover, and cook until onions have heated through and started to steam. Uncover and reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, until amber and cooked down, about 3 hours. Season with pepper.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Place bread slices on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Let dry completely, 20 to 30 minutes.

Add 6 cups water to pot with onions; increase heat to high and bring to a simmer. Immediately reduce heat to low. Add sherry; season with salt and pepper. Add a splash of vinegar, if desired, to cut sweetness. For more depth of flavor add a splash of red wine, if desired.

Preheat broiler. Divide soup evenly among 4 to 6 ovenproof bowls; top with toasted bread. Divide cheese evenly among bowls. Transfer bowls to broiler; broil until cheese is melted and browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.