Ingredients:
1 large red onion sliced
aprox. 2 pounds (bag) of yellow onions (can use mix of yellow onions, White, Spanish, leeks, etc) sliced (think onion rings)
6 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped
1 stick of butter
2 turns of extra virgin olive oil
8 cups of chicken broth/stock (or you can use beef, vegetable)
thyme to taste
tablespoon sugar
salt
pepper
3-4 bay leaves
1 cup brandy/cognac
1/4 to 1/2 cup dry white wine to taste
couple dashes Worcestershire sauce
Directions:
Put the butter, olive oil, and garlic into a heavy bottomed, nonstick pan. Stir everything round and add the onions. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and add the thyme and bay leaves. Place a lid on the pan, leaving it slightly ajar, and cook slowly for 50 minutes, without coloring the vegetables too much. Remove the lid for the last 20 minutes, and sprinkle the sugar. The onions will become soft and golden. Stir occasionally so that nothing catches on the bottom.
When your onions are silky and golden, add the brandy and wine. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer until the alcohol is almost gone. Add the stock/broth and stir, bring to a boil, and then cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce. Remove the bay leaves.
Optional: when ready to serve, add croutons or toasted baguette slices and grated cheese on top of the soup bowl (your favorite, although Gruyere is exquisite). I often use the large flavored croutons and grated mozzarella. It is even better if placed in the oven (450 degrees F or under broiler) and allow the cheese to melt and slightly brown. Use oven safe soup bowls! You can also zap it in the microwave oven to melt the cheese.
Store any leftover soup in a safe container and freeze or refrigerate. Warming it up in the microwave is a breeze!
You can also follow this recipe and use a cup and a half of Guinness beer (large can) instead of brandy and wine, and top with toasted bread and grated cheddar. If you do, I would recommend the beef stock/broth though.
Hope you enjoy trying our onion soup. Kerri loves it!
Life with Kerri is keeping warm on our snow day.