French Onion Soup

[prasantrin]

When ready to serve, I ladle the soup into all the bowls, float the toast on top then melt the cheese with

this handy appliance.

Works great and very rapidly.

←

I like that! I wonder how to say "heat gun" in Japanese so I can do a search. . .

[Peter the eater]

. . . . When ready to serve, I ladle the soup into all the bowls, float the toast on top then melt the cheese with

this handy appliance.

Works great and very rapidly.

←

I though I was alone using a heat gun in the kitchen!

It started with a gingerbread house that needed some gentle melting. I went from the hair dryer to the butane torch to the heat gun.

I love it when wood shop tools make it to the kitchen. Except for cutting frozen fish on the 9" band saw, I won't do that again.

[andiesenji]

I originally bought the heat gun to remove paint from some metal office furniture prior to having it powder coated (cut the cost by 1/3).

I then wondered what other uses I could find for it and took it into the kitchen.

[viva]

That is the greatest idea ever. I have a heat gun!!

[prasantrin]

I tried melting some cheese on the croutons in the toaster oven, then adding it to my bowl of hot soup. It worked really well! And it wasn't too messy, so I think I might be able to do it at work, too!

I think, though, adding some croutons to the soup earlier would be a good idea, too. As it was, the croutons barely absorbed any of the soup. It was good in that they remained crunchy, but it's nice to have a little bit of absorption. Must do more experiments.

[Bella S.F.]

I always use chicken as well as beef stock. I add some dijon to the onions when they are cooking and I also add some brandy to deglaze with.

[andiesenji]

I tried melting some cheese on the croutons in the toaster oven, then adding it to my bowl of hot soup.  It worked really well!  And it wasn't too messy, so I think I might be able to do it at work, too!

I think, though, adding some croutons to the soup earlier would be a good idea, too.  As it was, the croutons barely absorbed any of the soup.  It was good in that they remained crunchy, but it's nice to have a little bit of absorption.  Must do more experiments.

←

Toasting in the oven on a sheet pan allows one to toast the top of the bread but the bottom stays just enough less toasted so that it is more absorbable. At least that is the way it works for me.

[lala]

Onion Soup Gratinee is a touchstone in my family. We (I) made it every New Year's Eve, always using the recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Ahhh... Julia. The secret is to use both chicken and beef stock, with a good dollop of sherry to deglaze.

I make a big pot of this every winter and freeze it in batches. I can just heat a bowlful and top with croutons and gruyere/parm mix and pop into the toaster oven for a few minutes for a perfect bowl.

This soup is special to me. Not only was it a holiday tradition, it was the last thing I made for my Mother. A few months later, it was the last thing Julia ate before she passed. It's taken me a few years, but I can finally eat it again without crying.

[ChefCrash]

You can always run the cheese-topped bread under the broiler before you place it on the soup.

←

Why didn't I think of that? Thanks JAZ.

[StanSherman]

We canned about 30 quarts of soup made with mostly walla walla onions. It was someone sweet but after some time in the jars it's too sweet. Any ideas?

[mkayahara]

Balance it out with a splash of vinegar?

[Blether]

Cook it down further and base a sweet-and-sour on it.

[Doodad]

Base for a bbq sauce? Sweet onion relish type item?

I quit on using sweet onions. Vidalias do the same thing and I learned my lesson.

[runwestierun]

Veal stock and lots of salt.

[nickrey]

Agree, I'd use salt in preference to sour. This would allow you to keep the overall flavour profile of French Onion soup while adjusting the flavour profile.

If the product is still out of balance after using salt to rectify, then use some sour to give a three way balance.

[ChickenStu]

Veal stock and lots of salt.

If you have access to veal stock, you could take about half the broth out of the soup and replace it with a good, reduced stock.

Or for a more creative approach...add brewers yeast, ferment, and have the worlds first onion soup brew. The acidity (and salt) would probably kill off the yeast though...just thinking outside the box.

[andiesenji]

This has happened to me many times. Our locally grown onions are also quite sweet. I bring it to a simmer and add a tablespoon of lemon juice, simmer for a few minutes, taste and add more if needed. You can also add a small amount of salt but only a pinch, after adding the lemon juice.

There is no standard amount, you must balance it by taste.

[AlaMoi]

so, , , , I've done this several times - each a semi-to-full-blown disaster.  salvaged the cheese, tho....

DW wants another . . . .

 

the favorite seems to be yellow onions.

the prescribed slicing is pole-to-pole, not 'rounds'

some add sugar to help with the browning . . . some abhor sugar . . . I'm thinking (real) maple syrup?

I do 'glazed carrots' with real maple syrup - thunderously good stuff....

 

the slice thickness:  egads.  everything from 1/8 inch (~3.2mm) to 'the only way to make ...' using 1/2 inch (~13mm) slices.

have mandolin, can control....

 

the input of experience solicited . . . time isn't an issue - I have days to caramelize onions,,,, if needed.

using the classic Julia Child's recipe - "sliced thin" is the text . . .

I might skip the cognac.

[Anna N]

24 minutes ago, AlaMoi said:

so, , , , I've done this several times - each a semi-to-full-blown disaster.  salvaged the cheese, tho....

DW wants another . . . .

Julia Child’s recipe has never let me down.  

Edited June 14, 2022 by Anna N (log)

[MaryIsobel]

10 minutes ago, Anna N said:

Julia Child’s recipe has never let me down.  

I concurr with Anna. Julia's recipe is my go-to.

 

[AlaMoi]

so, how thin is thin?

[Duvel]

1 hour ago, AlaMoi said:

so, , , , I've done this several times - each a semi-to-full-blown disaster.  salvaged the cheese, tho....

DW wants another . . . .

Not fully sure what can go wrong - can you specify ?

 

Soup lacking texture, body, flavor (which flavor), ..?

 

Chop the onions (I’d lean towards the thinner side, but it doesn’t really matter). Sweat in oil & butter until caramelized. Adjust sweetness with a bit of (brown) sugar, if required. Dust with flower, add some white wine (if you like) and some really decent beef stock. Salt. Cook for maybe 1h, so you can still feel the onions, bit there is no stringy bits left. Soup should be viscous by now. Adjust saltyness, sweetness should be well rounded now. Do your fancy stuff with roasted bread & cheese or eat directly …

[Duvel]

9 minutes ago, AlaMoi said:

so, how thin is thin?

I honestly think it doesn’t matter as long as you get them caramelized and soft. If they are too thin you

might generate some stringy onions that will need longer softening in the cooking process later (with the stock). Thicker ones just need longer to caramelize.

 

if you need a number: 1 mm …

Edited June 14, 2022 by Duvel (log)

[Anna N]

5 minutes ago, Duvel said:

Not fully sure what can go wrong - can you specify ?

 

Soup lacking texture, body, flavor (which flavor), ..?

 

Chop the onions (I’d lean towards the thinner side, but it doesn’t really matter). Sweat in oil & butter until caramelized. Adjust sweetness with a bit of (brown) sugar, if required. Dust with flower, add some white wine (if you like) and some really decent beef stock. Salt. Cook for maybe 1h, so you can still feel the onions, bit there is no stringy bits left. Soup should be viscous by now. Adjust saltyness, sweetness should be well rounded now. Do your fancy stuff with roasted bread & cheese or eat directly …

Good grief is this for teetotalers?  What happened to the cognac/brandy/ Armagnac and the dry vermouth?

[Duvel]

3 minutes ago, Anna N said:

Good grief is this for teetotalers?  What happened to the cognac/brandy/ Armagnac and the dry vermouth?

It’s all in … the cook.

 

Edit: I have never used vermouth. I usually put whatever white wine i have open. Could add some brandy next time, though …

Edited June 14, 2022 by Duvel (log)