French Onion Soup
with
Keith Dunlop
You may order it every time you hit up your favorite bistro, but have you ever tried to make French onion soup in your own kitchen? See how to make this classic and hearty soup at home.
Transcript: French Onion Soup
Hi, I'm Keith Dunlop for About.com Food. Today, I'm going to show you how to make the staple of fine bistros everywhere, French onion soup. This soup is quite simple to make, and it's a light, yet surprisingly hearty soup that really satisfies, whether it's for lunch or dinner.French Onion Soup Ingredients
To make this soup, you'll need:- 8 medium Vidalia onions
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 8 cups of beef, chicken, or vegetable stock (traditionally beef is used)
- 1/3 of a cup of olive oil
- 2 tbsp. of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of dry white wine
- 1/2 tsp. of herbs de Provence
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups of croutons
- 2 cups of grated gruyere
- some oven-safe bowls
Chop the Soup Ingredients
We're going to do 95% of our cooking in one pot, so grab a nice medium to large saucepan or cooking pot. Slice your onions into half moons and chop your garlic coarsely and throw them in the pot. Add your olive oil and saute over low heat until the onions are translucent.Add the Soup Stock
Now add your stock. Traditionally, this soup is made with beef stock, but you can use other stocks to accord with your diet and it's still delicious. Pour in your wine – and add your spices, the herbs, the salt and pepper, and the bay leaf. Bring this to a boil, then back off the heat, cover with a lid, and simmer for around 15-20 minutes.Top the French Onion Soup
At this point, your soup can be served - all it needs are the toppings. Ladle your soup into an oven-safe crock or bowl and add a handful of croutons. Top it off with a layer of cheese and then melt the cheese under the broiler for about 3 to 5 minutes. Be careful handling the bowl after it;s been in the oven, as it will be hot, I highly recommend oven mitts!And there you have it, the only thing that could make it more authentic would be a view of the Eiffel Tower. Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the Web at food.about.com.