Fabulous French Onion Soup

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With winter rolling in, this is the perfect soup for those cold days no matter where you live. Create this comforting French Onion Soup by picking the best local yellow onions you can find. Splurge on quality Gruyere cheese from either Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. With a Swiss husband, cheese in our family is sacred; as it should be in every home.

Serves: 8 – 10 People

Ingredients:

3 Lbs yellow onions (mandoline cut or thinly sliced)
3 Tbsp butter (I use ½ no salt butter and ½ vegan butter)
1 Tbsp oil (Canola)
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1/4 Tsp salt
1/2 Tsp pepper
8 Cups beef broth (I use beef Better Than Bouillon)
2 Cups dry white wine (I use Sauvignon Blanc)
2 bay leaves
1-1/2 Cups grated Gruyere

Directions:

1) Place oil and butter into dutch oven on stove over medium to medium high heat. Add onions, season with salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Saute covered for approximately 30 minutes.

2) Add two cups of white wine, increase heat to high, cover and let simmer until volume is reduced by half. Tip: This soup gets better the longer you reduce it!

3) Add bouillon and bay leaves, cook uncovered for approximately 1 hour; then remove bay leaves.

4) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter thinly sliced french bread and cook approximately 3-5 minutes per side until browned. Remove from oven.

5) Ladle soup into oven safe ramekins, top with crusty baked bread from step 4 and grated Gruyere. Bake until cheese melts and bubbles. Serve warm.

I like this paired with walnut, pear salad (recipe to follow) and a favorite local white wine like Marryhill Winemaker’s White Blend ($8-10).