Description
Hearty french onion chicken soup blends classic French comfort with tender poultry and caramelized onions. Melted gruyère cheese crowns this rustic dish, offering a rich, satisfying experience for home cooks craving warmth and depth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken, shredded or diced (roasted or leftover works best)
- 4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 6 cups chicken broth (or beef broth for a richer flavor)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 slices crusty bread or baguette
- 1 cup Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded
- 2 tbsps butter
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ¼ cup dry white wine (optional)
- 2 tsp sugar (optional, for caramelizing the onions)
- 2 sprigs thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize Foundation: Slowly transform sliced onions to a deep golden-brown using butter and olive oil, applying low heat to develop rich, sweet flavor complexity.
- Develop Aromatic Base: Introduce minced garlic, deglaze with white wine to capture concentrated flavor essence, creating a robust cooking liquid that elevates the entire dish.
- Construct Soup Body: Combine chicken broth with cooked chicken pieces, thyme, and bay leaf, allowing ingredients to simmer and harmonize into a deeply comforting culinary experience.
- Season and Refine: Calibrate salt and pepper levels, ensuring balanced taste profile. Discard herb stems to maintain smooth texture and streamline presentation.
- Create Cheese Crown: Toast bread slices until crisp and golden, then layer soup in oven-safe bowls, topping with bread and abundant shredded cheese.
- Final Transformation: Position bowls under broiler, monitoring closely as cheese melts into a bubbling, bronzed masterpiece. Remove precisely when cheese reaches perfect molten consistency, serving immediately for maximum gastronomic pleasure.
Notes
- Caramelize Onions Perfectly: Patience is key – cook onions on low heat for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and develop deep, sweet flavor without scorching.
- Control Wine Splash: Use dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to deglaze the pan, which adds complexity and lifts concentrated flavor bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Choose high-moisture cheeses like Gruyère or Swiss for optimal melting and golden-brown bubbling. Grate cheese freshly for best texture and maximum flavor coverage.
- Dietary Adaptation Options: Swap chicken with plant-based protein like jackfruit or tofu for vegetarian version; use gluten-free bread for celiac-friendly alternative; substitute dairy cheese with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese for dairy-free preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg