- Quicker cooking time – our tip for adding sugar cuts down the onion caramelization time significantly. When you caramelize onions on the stove, the heat draws out their natural sugars so adding just a little extra sugar will make the process go faster and develops a sweeter and more caramelized onion.
- Make-ahead – you can make this ahead and impress your guests with gooey, cheesy topped soup without ‘sweating’ over the onions (some pun intended). It tastes even better as the flavors meld.
- We got the flavors right – this recipe has the perfect balance of sweet and savory. You’d be surprised how many recipes don’t specify the correct onions and Sherry, which can make or break your French Onion Soup.
What is French Onion Soup?
French Onion Soup is made of caramelized onions in a rich beef-Sherry broth and is served with a signature cheesy toast topping. It originated in France which is why it’s called French Onion Soup and it has become one of the most iconic French soups. Just like our Ukrainian Borscht, it is timeless and well-loved. This soup is often on the menu in high-end restaurants, but it’s simple to recreate at home. Just imagine you’re in Paris as you enjoy every bite.
Ingredients
The ingredients for French Onion Soup are simple, so quality ingredients are essential. A high-quality beef broth, gruyere cheese and fresh thyme will elevate your soup.
- Onions – use yellow onions for the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Sugar – just 1/2 teaspoon helps to speed up the caramelization process.
- Garlic, bay leaf, and thyme – these aromatics, plus salt and pepper are all you need for flavor.
- Beef Stock – using beef stock or broth will give you better taste and color versus chicken or vegetable stock.
- Dry Sherry – be sure to pick a dry sherry wine so your soup doesn’t end up too sweet.
- Baguette and Gruyere cheese – these two are combined to make the cheesy toast topping. Gruyere is the classic choice for this soup, but I did include some substitution options in the “common questions” section below.
The Best Onions for French Onion Soup:
Yellow onions are considered cooking onions and will work best for caramelizing with the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor. We highly recommend yellow onions for French Onion Soup. Sweet onions have 25% more sugar than yellow onions and will result in a sweeter soup. If using, be sure to use extra-dry sherry. White onions should be avoided since they taste flat when caramelized. Save them for guacamole. Red onions can turn blueish with lengthy cooking.
