French Onion Soup

Name: French Onion Soup
Yield: makes 6 cups; serves 4
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter; 4 medium yellow onions, sliced; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 6 cups Chicken Stock (page 230) or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth; 1/4 cup white wine; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste; 1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme; Semihard cheese, such as Gruyère (page 23), grated, for garnish (optional); Croutons, for garnish (optional; see headnote)

December 22, 2011

THE RICH FLAVORS OF CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP are especially comforting on a cold, gray day. The original recipe is lightened here by substituting chicken for beef stock. The croutons are the grand finale, and making them yourself is a snap; simply top sliced bread with cheese, bake on a baking sheet at 350°F. until golden brown, and cut into cubes. If possible, use homemade Chicken Stock (page 230) in this soup; the flavor is incomparable.

Cooks' Note

If your skillet is not wide enough or deep enough to hold 6 cups liquid, transfer the onions to a medium stockpot set over medium-high heat before adding the stock.

Recipe notes

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.

Vodka Gochujang Pasta

This pasta has some really big energy about it. It’s so extra, it’s the type of thing you should be eating in your bikini while drinking a magnum of rosé, not in Hebden Bridge (or wherever you live), but on a beach on Mykonos.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Crème Anglaise

The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.