Easy French Onion Soup (Alcohol free)
A simple soup topped with crusty garlic bread and melty cheese. Made without wine for those that don't cook with wine. But with all the depth of flavour of the original.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 lbs yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 6-7 onions)
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 8 cups vegetable or beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh thyme)
- salt & pepper to taste
Crusty Garlic Bread Topping (optional)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- pinch dried thyme (or fresh thyme)
- 4 tbsp salted butter, softened
- 1 cup gruyere or parmesan cheese, grated
- 6-8 slices thick crusty bread (french baguette sliced rather thick works great)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan on medium low heat, heat the oil. Add the sliced onions. Cook, stirring often, for 12-15 minutes until onions start to soften.
- Add sugar, if using, and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the onions start to turn golden brown.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup of broth to deglaze the pan (scrape off any brown bits on the bottom).
- Add the remaining broth, 2 bay leaves and 1/2 tsp dried thyme.
- Cover and turn the heat on low. Simmer for 25-30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with optional crusty topping:
For Crusty Garlic Bread Topping
- Preheat the oven on broil setting. Place the baking rack higher so it is close to the broiler. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter, minced garlic and pinch of thyme together.
- Spread the garlic butter over sliced crusty bread place on a baking sheet and toast/broil till golden.
- To serve, scoop the hot soup into an oven proof serving dish (see notes for alternative if you don't have an oven proof serving bowl). Place a slice of toasted garlic bread on top of the soup. Sprinkle generously with grated cheese and place under the broiler till the cheese melts and starts to turn golden brown on top (about 3 minutes).
Notes
Tip: If you don't have individual oven proof dishes to broil the bread in the soup (or if you are lazy). Just toast the garlic bread with cheese on top under the broiler till crusty and golden brown. Add a slice of cheesy garlic bread on top of the soup right before serving.