sourdough baguette | thebrookcook

Red Onion Soup with Gruyere Toasts

I had to squeeze in one last batch of warm and cozy soup before the end of winter. 🙂 French Onion Soup is one of my all-time favorites. I expected that this dish would be simply a different version of French Onion Soup, but it lacked the sweetness that I love. I added sugar to offset the bitterness of the red onions and it was much improved. (I never add sugar to savory dishes! I guess never say never…) I also substituted homemade turkey stock for half of the water in the recipe. The rich and dark color from the caramelized red onions was gorgeous and the fabulous cheesy herb toast topping made the soup just right. This recipe was adapted from Jacques Pépin, via David Tanis of The New York Times.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Olive oil
6 pounds red onions, peeled, sliced 1/8-inch thick (about 8 large onions)
Salt and pepper
2 cups dry red wine
4 bay leaves
1 LARGE bunch thyme, tied with string
16 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
4 cups chicken or turkey stock
2-4 tablespoons brandy (optional)
2-4 tablespoons granulated sugar (optional), or to taste
8 -10 slices day-old bread, lightly toasted (I used a sourdough baguette)
10 ounces grated Gruyère, or to taste
2 teaspoons chopped thyme
1-2 tablespoons chopped sage

1.

Set 2 large, wide skillets over medium-high heat. When pans are hot, add 1 tablespoon oil and a large handful of sliced onions to each pan. Season onions with salt and pepper, then sauté, stirring occasionally, until they are a ruddy dark brown, about 10 minutes.

2.

Transfer onions to soup pot and return pans to stove. Pour 1/2 cup water into each pan to deglaze it, scraping with a wooden spoon to dissolve any brown bits. Pour deglazing liquid into soup pot. Wipe pans clean with paper towel and begin again with more oil and sliced onions. Continue until all onions are used. Don’t crowd pans or onions won’t brown sufficiently.

3.

Place soup pot over high heat. Add wine, bay leaves, thyme bunch and garlic. Simmer rapidly for 5 minutes, then add stock and 4 cups water and return to boil. Turn heat down to maintain a gentle simmer. Add 4 teaspoons salt. Cook for 45 minutes. Skim off any surface fat, taste and adjust seasoning. (May be prepared to this point up to 2 days in advance.)

4.

To serve, add brandy and/or sugar to soup, if using, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove the thyme. Make the cheese toasts: Heat broiler. Place toasted bread on baking sheet. Mix grated cheese with chopped thyme and sage, along with a generous amount of pepper. Heap about 1 ounce of cheese mixture on each toast. Broil until cheese bubbles and browns slightly. Ladle soup into wide bowls and top with toast. (I sprinkled the soup with extra cheese as well!)

One Year Ago:

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French Onion Soup

Bruschetta Bianca

This is our favorite special winter appetizer. It is luxurious yet messy and rustic. I use my favorite sourdough baguette, rub garlic on BOTH sides (such intense garlic flavor), and then top it with aged balsamic vinegar, white truffle oil, and parmesan. GREAT. This recipe was adapted from The Union Square Cafe Cookbook: 160 Favorite Recipes from New York’s Acclaimed Restaurant by Danny Meyer and Michael Romano. Delicious!

This is my first contribution to “Fiesta Friday” (#5 this week) on one of my favorite blogs- The Novice Gardener– so inspiring and fun- check it out!

6 1-inch slices sourdough or whole wheat peasant bread (I used a sourdough baguette)
1 large garlic clove, cut in half lengthwise
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp aged balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze (I don’t measure – I just drizzle)
1/4 cup white truffle oil (I don’t measure – I just drizzle)
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler into thin shards
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Grill or toast the bread slices until golden brown.
While the toast is still warm, rub each piece on both sides with the garlic halves. (The garlic will melt into the bread.) Season with sea salt.
Drizzle each piece of toast with equal amounts of the balsamic vinegar and truffle oil.
Place the shaved Parmigiano on the toasts and drizzle the remaining (or to taste) truffle oil over the cheese, if desired. (I often skip this step.) Lightly sprinkle each brushetta with pepper and serve.

One Year Ago: