Description

Only have one variety of onion? Use whatever onions you have, just have it measure out to approx. 8 cups (trust me, they cook down to barely nothing but are loaded with mild flavor!) So no worries, it’ll be great! Grab a glass of wine and enjoy yourself while making this soup. Taste how your patience will transform the lowly onion (I really don’t mean that, I love onions!) to new heights (as they shrink).

Ingredients

Units Scale

For step one

3 lbs onions (large white, yellow and or red) (thinly sliced)
1 large shallot (thinly sliced)
1 large leek (well washed) (thinly sliced)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Pinch of salt

For step two

1 teaspoon kosher salt (affiliate link)
1/2 teaspoon sugar

For step three

2 tablespoons flour (whole wheat is fine)

For step four

1/2 cup white wine (what ever one makes you happy)
2 liters (or so) good beef stock (homemade if you have it*)
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar (taste to see if needed*)

For step five

6 slices of good hearty bread (cut to 1″ thickness)
12 oz. gruyere cheese (half of it sliced, half grated)
2 oz. grated parmesan cheese

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Instructions

Step one

In a covered heavy bottomed pot, over medium high heat, cook the onions slowly in the butter and oil until softened, do not brown at this point. Stirring occasionally.

Step two

Uncover and turn the heat up to medium high, add the salt and sugar. Cook for 30 or so minutes stirring frequently until a deep golden brown.
If you fear the onions are going to burn, add a little water or stock (maybe 1-2 tablespoons) and scrape up and bits on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Those bits are flavor, flavor, flavor! See video >

Step three

When onions are nice and browned, sprinkle with the flour. Stir for about 2-3 minutes. This will cook out the raw flour taste, but will thicken a bit.

Step four

Add the wine, stir for a few minutes, then add the stock. Let simmer for another half hour. (Can be prepared ahead to this point. Check for seasoning and let cool, then refrigerate until you are ready to finish it off. Keeps for about 3 days in fridge)
When ready to serve, bring back to a low-simmer over medium-high heat. Taste to see if the vinegar is needed, ask yourself, does it need a little something? Some umph? Add if it does.

Step five

To make the toasts, heat oven to 325 degrees F. Place bread on baking sheet. Toast for 15 minutes in oven on each side (30 minutes total).
Check the soup for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf.
Add a few slices of the gruyere cheese directly onto the soup. Place the toasted bread in a single layer on top of the soup. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese in a thick layer on top of the bread making sure to cover the edges of the toast to prevent burning.
Place in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes.
Turn on broiler and brown cheese well.

Notes

*If using canned or box stock, doctor it up a bit. Pour it into another pan, add a bay leaf, some garlic, a teaspoon of peppercorns, onion. Let it simmer for a few hours, strain and add to the soup. Don’t add extra salt, whatever in the canned version will condense down, and be way too salty.