Dinner Tonight! (AB's French Onion Soup)

[FoodieDoug]

This was borrowed from Alton Brown's recipe at Food Network. I took a stab at it a while back and got a craving for it for tonight's menu. Super easy. The apple cider really gives this rich French Onion soup a touch of sweetness. Good on a cold night.



Ingredients

• 5 sweet onions (like Vidalias) or a combination of sweet and red onions (about 4 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups white wine
• 10 ounces canned beef consume
• 10 ounces chicken broth
• 10 ounces apple cider (unfiltered is best)
• Bouquet garni; thyme sprigs, bay leaf and parsley tied together with kitchen string
• 1 loaf country style bread
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• Splash of Cognac (optional)
• 1 cup Fontina or Gruyere cheese, grated

Directions

Trim the ends off each onion then halve lengthwise. Remove peel and finely slice into half moon shapes. Set electric skillet to 300 degrees and add butter. Once butter has melted add a layer of onions and sprinkle with a little salt. Repeat layering onions and salt until all onions are in the skillet. Do not try stirring until onions have sweated down for 15 to 20 minutes. After that, stir occasionally until onions are dark mahogany and reduced to approximately 2 cups. This should take 45 minutes to 1 hour. Do not worry about burning.
Add enough wine to cover the onions and turn heat to high, reducing the wine to a syrup consistency. Add consume, chicken broth, apple cider and bouquet garni. Reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
Place oven rack in top 1/3 of oven and heat broiler.
Cut country bread in rounds large enough to fit mouth of oven safe soup crocks. Place the slices on a baking sheet and place under broiler for 1 minute.
Season soup mixture with salt, pepper and cognac. Remove bouquet garni and ladle soup into crocks leaving one inch to the lip. Place bread round, toasted side down, on top of soup and top with grated cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly and golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

[Food Network Fan]

I made it about a week ago, it's wonderful!

[BerryBaby]

I swear by the old, classic, Julia Child's recipe. Takes a while to make, but oh, so worth it!

[bakerman]

I have some episodes of The French Chef on dvd, and one is the onion soup episode, that soup looks soooo good. I believe that this is the episode where she talks about buying knives and maintaining them. That lady had some wonderful knife skills, she cut through that pile of onions in no time.

[FoodieDoug]

I swear by the old, classic, Julia Child's recipe. Takes a while to make, but oh, so worth it!

I'll have to look it up and try it. I grew up a B-I-G fan of her's and I bet it is good!

[ping]

Can I incorporate turkey into this recipe?

[Food Network Fan]

Have a turkey sandwich with it.

[BerryBaby]

The soup is so rich and good that you won't want anything else with it. Takes hours to make, however it is the best onion soup ever.

[MiseEnPlace]

I've never made Julia's but I have made AB's French Onion soup. It is fabulous! And not too difficult.

[BerryBaby]

Julia's recipe is far from being fast. In fact, you need a couple of hours to do it right. Definitely a meal you would plan in advance.