Food Friday: French Onion Soup

Today’s french onion soup is brought to you by my ever so lovely cousin, Tori fromFraiche Nutrition. She really knows how to make my belly happy and my heart warm. Read on for possibly the best homemade french onion soup you’ll ever make…DROOOOOL!!!!

If you look up ‘comfort food’ in a dictionary I’m pretty sure that you will see a picture of French Onion Soup. Is there a better dish to serve on a cozy fall day? I think not. Using Jamie Oliver as an inspiration, I came up with this recipe. I must say, I’m pretty thrilled and so was the crew. Onions are one of those vegetables that don’t get a lot of love in the press, but are actually packed with disease-fighting antioxidants (may help fight cancer and diabetes) and are a good source of vitamin C and B6, iron, folate, and potassium. Not bad for a humble onion!

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. butter

6 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 cup fresh thyme, coarsely chopped

3/4 cup good quality red wine

2 litres prepared beef stock

salt & pepper to taste

Parmesan Thyme Croutons (recipe below)

1 1/2 cups grated gruyere cheese

6 springs fresh thyme for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large heavy pot, heat oil and butter over medium-low heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until they are fragrant and soft. Add the thyme.

2. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to turn light golden brown.

3. Add the wine and cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring.

4. Add the beef stock and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

5. Preheat the broiler setting on the oven.

6. Place 6 heat-safe soup dishes on a cookie sheet and ladle in the soup. Place a handful of croutons on top of each dish and immediately top with a handful of the grated cheese and a sprig of thyme.  Broil the soup until the cheese starts to bubble and turn brown. Serve immediately (with a salad to round out the meal)!

Parmesan Thyme Croutons

Ingredients:

1 day-old baguette, diced into 1/2″ squares

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

1 clove of garlic, crushed

1/2 tsp. sea salt

3 Tbsp. fresh grated parmesan

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Place the diced baguette in a large bowl.  Combine olive oil, thyme, rosemary, salt and garlic in a separate bowl and toss with the baguette until evenly coated.

4. Spread the baguette evenly on the baking sheet and sprinkle the grated parmesan evenly over the croutons.  Toss them with your hands until the parmesan has coated the croutons.

Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes, tossing occasionally to make sure that they are evenly browned. Cool before serving over the soup.

Happy Friday!!! What warm comfort foods will you be making this weekend!?!?

xo

Jilly