Golden Gruyere Delight: Classic French Onion Soup Recipe 🍲

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.