12.13.2009

3-Onion Soup



You might think this soup is another feeble attempt for me to profess my love for the mandoline, and while I couldn't go through this post with out at least mentioning it, I swear I'll keep the mandoline-obsession-talk to a minimum. In reality, my love of onion soup runs deep, holding the torch as my favorite soup for 20+ years running.



These days, it is rarely enjoyed outside my home (as with most soups, which are usually not vegetarian-friendly). Which perhaps making it even more of a treat with each bowl. Hours after meal time, my tongue is still tingling with a bit of pain, from a taste or two I couldn't resist sneaking from the pot. But the punishment is so worth it.



3-Onion Soup
serves 4

4 medium onions, sliced thin
4 large shallots, sliced thin
3 T butter
1 T olive oil
1 c red wine
1 T sherry
1 T flour
4 c water (or vegetable broth)
1/2 t pepper
1-2 t salt
4 one-inch slices Ciabatta bread
1 oz Gruyere cheese, cut into thin slices
2 T chopped chives

In a large pan, heat butter and olive oil over low heat. Add onions and shallots and cook 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown and caramelized. Pour in red wine and sherry, scraping brown pits off bottom of the pan. Whisk in flour, until smooth. Add water, pepper and salt, to taste (add less salt if using vegetable broth). Increase heat to medium-low and allow to simmer 10 minutes.

Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet. Top with Gruyere and broil, 2 minutes, until golden brown and toasted. Divide soup among four serving bowls. Top each with a slice of bread. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately.

12 comments:

Suzanne said...

gosh, this food looks so delicious!

Cookie Cutter said...

Favourite soup for 20 years! That's a serious long-term relationship. Wow, this must be really good!

Sarah S. said...

Oh how dreamy! I've been wondering when a worthy vegetarian version of the classic french onion would pop up somewhere. All of my searching has been fruitless, until now.

Oraphan said...

Wow! This onion soup looks and sounds amazingly delicious! I love this simple recipe and I know it must be a very good one, thank you for sharing your favorite soup:)

leslie said...

This looks divine! 20 years -wowI have a mandoline obsession too and have the big french one but found a small one in Japan that I cannot live without...it's by Kyocera and you can slice right into a container, it's a shame that they do not carry the same compact model in the US.

jacqueline said...

OH wow another yummie yummie dish!! I have always wanted to make onion soup but never did really know how. I do really wanna try this and will be adding it to my fresh365 holiday recipes! Yep i actually have a file made and am ready to bring it along with me on my holiday visiting my bf. hehe

Have a lovely merry happy week and love to yoU!

Anonymous said...

This looks amazing, Erin...another recipe for the holidays. :) Btw, your post is up on Simply Hue today! Thanks again. xo

Dana said...

That soup looks amazing. It is one of my husband's favorite things in the world but I haven't made it for years because I didn't think the veg broth was much good. This one looks so rich and delicious!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

I'm so glad you've shared this beef-free version. I've been coveting a mandoline for a while, but I'm so clumsy I just know I'll slice my finger hehe. Love the bright green in your first photo. So appealing!

Joy said...

I may be getting a mandoline for Christmas!!! hahaha I love onion soup it is such a comfort food for me MMMmmm

Paige Appel said...

yummmm. love your blog!

Stacy said...

Yum! I have a mandoline, but I hate unpacking it to use it. The upside is that my knife skills have really improved because I use a lot of onions in our house.

The soup looks great. It's one of my pet peeves when people don't realize that most soup stock isn't vegetarian. My husband's aunt once had us over for dinner and proceeded to pour half a can of chicken stock into a pot of previously-vegetarian soup right in front of me, then was mad because I couldn't eat dinner (she knew I was vegetarian). I will add this one to my list!