Uncle Bill’s French Onion Soup 🍲
Overview:
Uncle Bill’s French Onion Soup is a timeless classic, originating from the culinary genius of Uncle Bill himself in the vibrant era of 1970. This soup, though requiring a bit of patience and time to prepare, is a testament to the adage that good things come to those who wait. Its rich flavors, savory broth, and cheesy topping make it an irresistible delight for any occasion.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 5 hours and 20 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Servings: 12 bowls
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 12 cups | Water |
| 2 | Beef bones with marrow |
| 5 | Celery tops |
| 2 | Bay leaves |
| 1 tsp | Salt |
| 1 tsp | Fresh ground black pepper |
| 4 lbs | Onions |
| 3 tbsp | Butter |
| 21 cups | Beef broth |
| 10 1/2 cups | Consomme soup |
| 1 cup | Granulated sugar |
| 1/2 tsp | Garlic powder |
| 2 tbsp | Ketchup |
| 4 tbsp | Worcestershire sauce |
| 6 cloves | Garlic |
| 12 slices | French bread |
| 1 cup | Gruyere cheese, grated |
| 1 cup | Mozzarella cheese, grated |
Instructions:
- In a large cooking pot, combine water, celery tops, bay leaves, salt, and beef bones with marrow.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for approximately 4 hours.
- Remove the bones, meat, celery tops, and bay leaves from the stock, and discard them.
- Transfer the stock to a large bowl and refrigerate until cooled, allowing the fat to set.
- Skim off and discard any fat that has solidified on the surface of the stock.
- Set the soup stock aside for later use.
- Thinly slice the onions.
- In a large frying pan, melt butter over medium heat, then add the sliced onions.
- Saute the onions until they are light brown, stirring often to prevent burning, for about 15 minutes.
- In another large cooking pot, combine the reserved stock (measured to 12 cups), consomme soup, beef broth, granulated sugar, garlic powder, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Add the sauteed onions to the pot and simmer for an additional hour, stirring occasionally.
- Adjust the seasoning according to taste preferences.
- To serve, pour the soup into oven-proof soup bowls, leaving enough room to add 1 tablespoon of beer to each bowl.
- Rub each slice of French bread with garlic.
- Place a piece of toasted French bread on top of the soup in each bowl.
- Liberally sprinkle grated Gruyere and Mozzarella cheese on top of the bread.
- Arrange the bowls of soup on a metal tray or cookie sheet.
- Place the tray under the broiler, approximately 3 inches below the heating element, and broil until the cheese melts and becomes golden brown, which typically takes about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Serve the French Onion Soup immediately, savoring the warm, comforting flavors.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 304.9
- Fat: 9.9g
- Saturated Fat: 5.2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sodium: 983.3mg
- Carbohydrates: 40.9g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Sugar: 4.1g
- Protein: 12.3g
Recipe Keywords:
Meat, Weeknight, Broil/Grill, Oven
Recipe Notes:
- This French Onion Soup can be made ahead of time and reheated gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Feel free to customize the cheese topping according to your preference, using different types of cheese or adjusting the amount to your liking.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for the beef broth and omit the beef bones, using additional vegetables for flavor instead.
Enjoy your culinary journey with Uncle Bill’s French Onion Soup! 🥄🔥
