Almost everyone has heard of traditional French onion soup, but there are actually other types of onion soup too. Like potato soup, onion soup has been served for generations. You can combine potatoes and onions in equal portions and make a pot of potato onion soup. Puree the soup before serving to create a delicious, creamy soup.
Emeril Lagasse makes an incredible Sweet Onion Soup with fried cheese tortellini thrown on top as a garnish. He makes it using sweet onions, seasonings, and herbs. Bread and cream are added to make the soup get a silky texture. Everything is blended with an immersion blender. The fresh tortellini is fried in oil for a minute or so and then dropped on top of the bowl of soup. Cannot you almost taste it?
In Asia, they use a clear broth for their onion soup. In your bowl you will see a few choice pieces of onion floating with some minced scallions, maybe a mushroom or even a piece of chicken meat for company. The solid ingredients provide a wonderful contrast with the rich, clear broth. A properly made broth for this soup would be simmered all day long before adding the solid ingredients.
You can even adapt traditional onion soup by choosing your onions carefully. Mix up white, red, and yellow onions in a single kettle of soup. Add in some leeks, shallots, and scallions. This will give you levels of flavor you have never dreamed of. Prepare these other members of the onion family the same way you would in a regular onion soup recipe. Caramelize them until they are sticky and golden brown.
Another way to vary your onion soup is how you serve it. Will you put cheese on top or not? Surprisingly, onion soup is delicious even without that delectable cheese topping. If you do want cheese, use one of your favorites or a local specialty cheese. Goat cheese, farmer’s cheese, or anything that melts well will taste delightful.
The best ever French onion soup will be the one you make at home. You get to choose the onions, the seasonings, and the cheese you put on it. Adding wine to the soup while it is cooking adds a lot of flavor. Red wine is traditional, but white wine has a lot to offer as well with its fruity flavors. Some people prefer to add sherry. Whatever you choose, it will make a delicious soup.
If you have bowls that are not oven safe, there is another way to top your soup. Slice your French bread and top it with your grated cheese. Place them on a baking sheet and put them under the broiler until the cheese is all bubbly. Remove the pan from the oven and place your cheesy croutons on top of each bowl of soup. The bread will soak up the broth and you can enjoy your traditional soup.
French onion soup has been a comfort food for centuries. If you have not eaten it before, you must put it on your list to things to try. It is simple, filling, and comforting. It is the ultimate comfort food.
French onion soup can only be made with fresh onions. Different onions will provide different flavors, so not all are suited for this soup. Once the onions are caramelized, they are added to a rich beef stock and allowed to simmer slowly to create that special flavor.