French onion soup with Comté

Amber caramelized onions, piping-hot broth, and a crown of country bread broiled with melty Comté.

Vegetarian

French onion soup is the most budget-friendly, comforting meal for rainy evenings: four large onions, a knob of butter, broth, bread, and cheese.

Its whole secret lies in being patient during the first twenty minutes, as the onions melt and caramelize slowly in the Dutch oven.

10minprep
40mincooking
Easylevel
French onion soup with Comté, a serving idea
broiled with Comté, fresh from the broiler

Step-by-step recipe check off as you go

  1. Slowly caramelize the onions

    Thinly slice the onions. In the Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-low heat and let the onions cook down for 20 minutes, stirring often until they turn a deep amber color.

    Popotam's tipIf they start sticking to the bottom, pour in a tablespoon of water and scrape with a wooden spoon: all the browned bits will lift right off.
  2. Dust with flour and add the broth

    Dust the flour over the onions, stir for 1 minute, then pour in the hot broth along with the thyme. Simmer for 20 minutes over low heat. Season with salt and pepper.

  3. Prepare the croutons

    Toast the slices of country bread and rub them with the peeled garlic clove.

  4. Broil under the broiler

    Ladle the soup into the oven-safe bowls, place a slice of bread on top of each, cover generously with grated Comté, and broil for 5 minutes under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling and golden.

And there you go, it's ready

Check off every step to brown the cheese crust.

Secrets for bistro-style French onion soup what makes all the difference

Secrets

  • Do not rush the onions: they need to turn golden and caramelize, never burn.
  • The spoonful of flour gives the broth just enough body to hold up the bread.
  • Toast the bread well before setting it on the soup so it does not sink right to the bottom.

Storage and make-ahead

The onion soup base (without bread or cheese) keeps for 4 days in the fridge and can be broiled on demand.

Variations

  • Deglaze the onions with 10 cl dry white wine or hard cider before adding the broth.
  • Swap half of the Comté for Beaufort or Abondance cheese.
  • If your bowls are not oven-safe, broil the cheesy toasts on a baking sheet and place them on top of the soup when serving.

Frequently asked questions

Comment émincer 5 oignons sans pleurer ?

Passe-les 15 minutes au frais avant de les couper et utilise un couteau bien aiguisé qui tranche sans écraser les fibres.

Mes bols ne passent pas au four, comment faire ?

Fais gratiner les tranches de pain couvertes de comté sur la plaque du four pendant 5 minutes, puis dépose-les sur les bols de soupe bien chaude.

Quel bouillon choisir ?

Un bouillon de légumes corsé (avec une goutte de sauce soja pour la couleur ambrée) ou un bouillon de bœuf traditionnel.

Fall menus that serve it with the grocery list for the whole table

recipe by recipe

Build your fall week

Add this recipe to your meal plan, then pick a main, a soup or a dessert: Popotam brings them together with the grocery list for the whole week. Free, no account.