Description
French Onion Soup with Gruyère Croutons is a traditional French dish made by slowly caramelizing onions in butter, then deglazing them with wine and simmering in a flavorful stock. The soup is then topped with slices of toasted baguette covered in melted Gruyère cheese. The cheesy croutons soak up the broth, creating a rich, hearty, and deeply savory experience.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 1.6 kg onions, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 80 ml port wine
- 80 ml dry white wine
- 1 litre veal stock (or beef/vegetable stock)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
For the Croutons:
- ½ baguette, sliced diagonally
- 80 g Gruyère cheese, grated
- 2 egg yolks
- 75 ml crème fraîche
- 4 tbsp chopped chives (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Caramelize the Onions
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cover and cook on low for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are deeply caramelized. Remove herbs.
2. Deglaze & Simmer
Add port and white wine to deglaze the pot. Simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in stock, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Prepare Croutons
Preheat oven grill. Toast baguette slices lightly. Sprinkle Gruyère on each slice and grill until melted and golden.
4. Enrich the Soup
Whisk egg yolks with crème fraîche and chill until serving. Ladle hot soup into bowls, stir in a spoonful of the egg mixture, and top with 2–3 Gruyère croutons.
5. Garnish & Serve
Finish with chopped chives and serve immediately.
Notes
For an extra touch, try adding a splash of sherry, white wine, or brandy while caramelizing the onions for deeper flavor. You can also experiment with different cheeses like Comté or Emmental if Gruyère isn’t available. Serve alongside a crisp green salad or roasted meat for a comforting, bistro-style meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop + Broiler
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Classic French Onion Soup, Onion Soup with Gruyère Cheese, Authentic French Onion Soup