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French Onion Soup

 

French Onion Soup

onion soup in bowl
Print Recipe
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Calories
188
 

This is a great meal to make when there’s nothing much left in the fridge. Cheesy croutons don’t need to be omitted just because you’re cutting back. You can use any hard, full-flavoured cheese instead of the Gruyére but I think its nuttiness compliments the richness of the onions particularly well.

Servings: 6
Calories: 188 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2tsp sunflower oil
  • 6 medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 1tbsp fresh thyme leaves, plus extra to garnish
  • 2tbsp plain flour
  • 1.5 litres hot beef stock (made with 2 stock cubes)
  • 12 thin slices of baguette (about 15g per slice), cut diagonally
  • 50g Gruyere cheese, finely grated
  • flaked sea salt
  • ground black pepper

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan or flameproof casserole dish. Add the onions, cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for 20–25 minutes or until the onions are very soft, stirring occasionally.

  2. Remove the lid, increase the heat and cook for a further 15 minutes or until the onions have turned a rich golden brown colour, stirring frequently and making sure that they do not burn. Reduce the heat and stir in the thyme leaves and flour.

  3. Pour the stock slowly over the onions, stirring constantly and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes or until the soup thickens slightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper and keep warm over a low heat.

  4. Heat the grill to the hottest setting. Place the baguette slices on a baking tray and toast close to the grill for 1 minute on each side or until lightly browned.

  5. Remove from under the grill and sprinkle a little of the grated cheese on each slice of bread. Return to the grill and cook until the cheese melts and is begins to brown.

  6. Ladle the hot soup into warm, deep bowls and top each one with 2 pieces of the cheesy toast. Sprinkle with tiny sprigs of thyme just before serving. Calories per serving: 188.

Recipe Notes

To freeze

Freeze the cooled soup by dividing into freezer-proof containers. Cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.

Freeze the croutons by toasting the bread and topping with the cheese, but do not grill again. Open freeze the toast until solid and stack in a freezer-proof container interleaving with baking parchment. 

To serve

Warm the soup through gently in a large saucepan until thawed then simmer until piping hot, stirring regularly.

Grill the croutons from frozen, not too close to the heat, for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the bread is piping hot.

 

Buy ‘COMFORT FOOD’ Without the Calories: Low-calorie Recipes, Cheats and Ideas for Feel-Good Favourites

Category: Soups, Salads and Snacks

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If you, like me, love risotto, check out this hand If you, like me, love risotto, check out this handy oven baked one from my book ‘Easy One Pot Without The Calories’ (swipe for the full recipe) or click on the link in my bio to take you to my chicken and mushroom risotto @bbcfood . They may not be totally authentic - but they certainly hit the spot 😋
Feeling like a break from all that festive food? T Feeling like a break from all that festive food? This roasted veg salad may be just what you need. I’ve topped it with yoghurt that I’ve strained overnight in the fridge until it’s really thick - it’s lighter than cheese and is the perfect addition to a warm salad. I’ve sprinkled the salad with a few mixed seeds, added some leaves and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. An easy way to kick off a healthy 2021! 🥗
I had the chance to share some freeze-ahead tips w I had the chance to share some freeze-ahead tips with @thismorning live a few weeks ago. As I am now not spending Christmas with my mum, I was able to give her some goodies to cook up for herself on Christmas Day. If you’ve had to downsize like me, why not take a look at my ‘Turkey for Two’,and lots of other ideas, by searching ITV This Morning with Justine Pattison. 🎄
Christmas is going to be a little different this y Christmas is going to be a little different this year, but it’s never too early to start planning your food shop.
To find out how to boss your festive menus, head over to BBC Food where you’ll find my top tips for getting organised this year. 
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#christmasshopping #christmascooking #christmas2020 #bbcfood
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