French Onion Soup ~ the way Julia made it, sort of

• Produce

  • 1 1/2 lbs Yellow onions

• Canned Goods

  • 2 qt Beef stock

• Baking & Spices

  • 3 tbsp Flour
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 Kosher salt and pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Sugar

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil

• Dairy

  • 3 tbsp Butter
  • 1 cups Swiss cheese, grated real

• Beer, Wine & Liquor

  • 1 tbsp Cognac or brandy
  • 1/2 cup White wine or dry vermouth, dry

• Other

  • French, Italian or rustic loaf bread, cut into bite sized croutons, toasted

Found on christinascucina.com

Description

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs or about 5 cups of thinly sliced yellow onions (do not use sweet)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• ¼ tsp sugar
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 quarts (64 oz) beef stock (or water with beef bouillon)
• ½ cup (4 oz) dry white wine or dry vermouth
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp cognac or brandy (optional, Julias recipe has 3 tbsp, but I prefer less)
• French, Italian or rustic loaf bread, cut into bite sized croutons, toasted
• 1 to 2 cups of grated, real Swiss Cheese (Julia used Swiss or Parmesan) I used Gruyere

Directions

• In a large, heavy bottomed pot, put the butter and oil and add the sliced onions. Cook slowly, with the lid on, for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the lid, turn the heat up to medium, add the salt and sugar, and stir often for about 40 minutes (mine took 45), until the onions are a deep golden brown.
• Add the flour and continue to cook and stir for another 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the stock/water/bouillon and wine/vermouth.
• Add salt and pepper to taste and return to the cooktop, and simmer for an additional 30 to 40 minutes. Just before the soup is ready, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• When the soup is ready, add the brandy/cognac, if using and check for seasoning; ladle it into ovenproof bowls, and top with the cubes of toasted bread.
• Now, dont go and ruin the soup by using cheap cheese! Use the best, real Gruyere from Switzerland, please.
• Sprinkle the cheese on top of the toast, as desired. I like everything in moderation (the cheese on the bowl in the photo above, from the restaurant in Santa Barbara was a bit too much for me) so this might be a wimpy amount of cheese for you; if so, add more.
• Repeat to make about 6 bowls, then place them on a tray and put into the center of the oven for about 15 minutes.
• Reset the oven to broil (grill) and move the tray of bowls closer to the top to get a nice golden color on the cheese, which should be watched carefully as it can burn quickly.
• Serve immediately.