French Onion Soup With Baguette Crostini Food

SOUTHERN STYLE FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the onion in the butter and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Stir in the thyme and remove from heat.
• In a large pot over high heat, combine the consomme, bay leaves and white wine, if desired. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, stir in the sauteed onions and allow to heat through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Ladle soup into 4 individual oven-safe bowls, filling each about 3/4 of the way. Top each bowl with 2 slices of baguette bread and then cover each with the cheese.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until softened, 10-13 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook 2 minutes longer., Stir in wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add broth, pepper and salt; return to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet; brush both sides with remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Bake until toasted, 3-5 minutes on each side. Rub toasts with halved garlic. , To serve, place twelve 8-oz. broiler-safe bowls or ramekins on baking sheets; place 2 toasts in each. Ladle with soup; top with cheese. Broil 4 in. from heat until cheese is melted.

TUSCAN WHITE ONION SOUP WITH CROSTINI

Steps:

• Melt butter and sweat onions, garlic, shallots until translucent. Add thyme and cardamom. Cover with chicken stock and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer until tender. Blend really well in a blender. Strain through a chinoise. Adjust seasoning and texture.
• For the Balsamic Reduction: In a saucepot over medium-high heat, reduce 1 bottle balsamic vinegar until it's the consistency of syrup.
• For the Crostini: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush with extra-virgin olive oil. Season the pan with salt and pepper. Place the bread slices on the baking sheet and season the bread with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the bread with grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer the slices to the oven and bake until golden, about 5 minutes.
• To serve, heat soup in a separate pot, whisk in whipped cream. Ladle into bowl. Garnish with Balsamic Reduction, shaved Parmesan cheese and Crostini.

FRENCH ONION SOUP WITH CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot on medium-high heat, saute the onions with the butter and bay leaf for 20 minutes, until the onions turn a rich golden brown color. Deglaze the pan with the sherry and brandy and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add the white wine and simmer uncovered for 15 more minutes.
• Add the beef and chicken stocks plus salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, taste for salt and pepper.
• *For the croutons*.
• While the soup simmers, arrange the baguette slices in single layer on baking sheet and bake in a 400-degree oven until the bread is dry, crisp, and golden at edges, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• *To serve*.
• Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Set individual broiler-safe crocks on baking sheet and fill each with about 1 3/4 cups soup. Top each bowl with 1 or 2 baguette slices (do not overlap slices) and sprinkle evenly with Gruyère. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly around edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

FRENCH ONION CROSTINI

Steps:

• In large, heavy pot or skillet, warm 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-low heat.
• Add the onions and 1 sprig thyme and cook, stirring every 10 minutes or so (if they start sticking to the pan, add a splash of water), for about 1 1/2 hours.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush on both sides with the remaining 2 T olive oil.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake until crisp, 10-15 minutes.
• Place about 1 T cheese on each toast; bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the leaves from the remaining thyme sprig and chop.
• Top each toast with the carmelized onions and chopped thyme.