JUDI'S RECIPES - WEEK 8 - JULY 26, 2022

JULY 26, 2022

Hi Everyone,

Now that we’ve all melted into puddles, the heat wave will break, they say. I hope they’re right!

This week there are onions in the share. I thought this would be an excellent time to make French onion soup, everybody’s yummy, gooey favorite.

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

4 onions, sliced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 bay leaves

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 c. red wine, (about half a bottle)

3 TBS all-purpose flour

2 qt (2 boxes) beef broth (chicken broth works too)

1 baguette, sliced

1/2lb. grated Gruyere cheese

Directions

Melt the stick of butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and salt and pepper, and cook until the onions are very soft and caramelized, about 25 minutes.
Add the wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the wine has evaporated and the onions are dry, about 5 minutes.
Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Dust the onions with the flour and give them a stir. Turn the heat down to medium-low, so the flour doesn’t burn, and cook for 10 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
Add the beef broth, bring the soup back to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
When you’re ready to eat, preheat the broiler or toaster oven. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle the slices with the Gruyere and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
Ladle the soup into bowls and float several Gruyere croutons on top.
Alternative method: Ladle the soup into bowls, top each with 2 slices of bread, and top with cheese. Put the bowls into the oven to toast the bread and melt the cheese.

To be honest, I like the oven method better than the broiler method. It gives you a nice crust over the soup.

HELPFUL HINT: Peeling and slicing the onions can really make you cry. Some people peel them under water. I’ve found that wearing glasses helps somewhat. Swim goggles are even better.

I hope you enjoy this soup. I know it’s a hearty dish that most people enjoy during the winter. But, you should try it in the summertime. It’s wonderful!

Please enjoy it and all the veggies, and have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi