This classic onion soup recipe
and photo are
by Jacques Pepin and his cookbook,
Jacques Pepin Celebrates. This classic
Lyonnaise-style French onion soup is a hearty mixture of deeply-colored and
caramelized onions, chicken stock, and layer of toasted French Baguettes. It's
topped off with a thick, creamy cheese crust.
This delicious
onion soup recipe and dinner menu were generously shared with my by Linda Sandberg of
Newberg, OR. Linda belongs to a Gourmet Dinner Group that delights in making
wonderful foods that they share together.
Check out
A Night of Comfort (Updated Comfort Food Dinner)
which includes this recipe.
More of Linda's great
Soup, Stew, and
Chili Recipes.
Onion Soup Gratinee Lyonaisse
Recipe Type:
Soup,
Onions,
Cheese
Cuisine: French
Yields: 6 servings
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Ingredients:
1/2 pound Emmenthaler cheese, grated
1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, grated
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons corn oil or vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds (5 cups)
onions, peeled and sliced thin
10 cups homemade or good-quality chicken stock
1 to 2 cloves
garlic, chopped
Salt and freshly-ground
black pepper to taste
1 loaf French baguette bread, cut into 36 to 48 slices
Equipment needed: Six (6)
12-ounce soup bowls (use fairly deep, oven-and broiler-safe soup bowls).
Preparation:
In a large bowl, mix together the grated
Emmenthaler and Gruyere cheeses; set aside.
In a large soup pot over medium-high heat,
heat the butter and corn oil until hot but not smoking. Add the sliced onions
and sauté, stirring frequently, for 10 to 12 minutes until they are nicely
browned. When the onions are browned, add
the chicken stock and garlic. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, at a gentle
boil for 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
Using a food mill, push the soup mixture through it into a large bowl or pan. Add salt
and pepper to taste.
NOTE: At this point, the soup can be cooled to room temperature and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days. To use, return to simmer before finishing soup with
bread and cheese.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Arrange the baguette bread slices in one layer on a
cookie sheet. Place in oven and bake, without turning, for approximately 8 to 10
minutes or until they are well-browned on both sides. Remove from oven.
Place 6 to 8 prepared bread slices in each soup
bowl. Arrange the bowls on a large cookie sheet.
Turn the oven temperature up to 425 degrees F.
Sprinkle approximately 2 tablespoons of the
combined grated cheeses on top of the bread slices in each bowl. Add the
prepared onion soup by filling the bowls to the rim (if you need a little more
liquid, add a little water to the soup in each of the bowls).
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated cheeses on top of the
onion soup in each bowl, making sure that it not only covers the soup, but also
touches the entire inside edge of each bowl, so that it will adhere to the edge
as it melts during cooking.
Tip: For an onion soup not
to collapse, the soup bowl has to be filled to the rim with the onion soup
and the bread. The cheese layer should cover the whole surface, so it will
stick to the sides and corm a crust that holds its shape and doesn't sink.
Set the cookie sheet containing the bowls of
soup in the oven and cook for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned.
Remove from oven and serve immediately. NOTE: If the top
is not well browned after 30 minutes, place the bowls under the hot broiler of
your oven for a few seconds before serving.
Makes 6 servings.
