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bonnie’s french onion soup

Recipe by
BonniE !
Cottonwood, CA

This is our traditional French Onion Soup recipe. While it appears to take awhile to make it, it is a very easy process. Don't skip the caramelizing of the onions because that is what gives it its wonderful flavor. I have made several versions of this recipe, and this is the one that we like the best. I have been told that it tastes like it came from a fine restaurant. Enjoy!

yield 3 to 4
prep time 50 Min
cook time 20 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For bonnie’s french onion soup

  • CARAMELIZE
  • 3 large onions, cut in half and sliced very thin
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • ADD IN
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • SIMMER
  • 2 quarts of good beef broth or stock
  • 1/2 cup marsala wine
  • 1/4 teaspoon marjoram
  • 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaf
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • BROIL
  • french bread or baguettes
  • 1 cup grated provolone and mozzarella cheese mix
  • 1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

How To Make bonnie’s french onion soup

  • Slice onions thin
    1
    Peel the onions and cut them in half. Slice them very thin. Choose large sweet onions.
  • Place onions in the butter and stir until well coated.
    2
    Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions to the Dutch oven and toss the onions around until they are coated with the butter. Cook uncovered. The onions will cook down. Stir about every five minutes so the onions don['t burn.
  • Cook until onions are a nice golden brown.
    3
    Remember slow and low is the way to go. Resist the urge to turn up the heat. You don't want to burn the onions. This is going to take about 40 minutes or more until the onions are caramelized a deep rich golden brown.
  • Add the broth to the onions.
    4
    Once the onions are caramelized, add in the garlic and stir for two minutes, then add two tablespoons of flour, mixing it in with the onions and garlic. Next, add the beef broth, scraping up the bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven and bring the broth to a boil.
  • Add bay leaf and spices
    5
    Add the Marsala wine, thyme, bay leaves, and marjoram. Add salt and coarse ground pepper, adjust seasoning. Stir. Turn the burner to low simmer and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes on low.
  • Place soup dishes on a baking pan for easier handling.
    6
    I use these little casserole dishes or ramekins will do. Anything that is oven proof. Place your baking dishes on a pan for easier and safer handling.
  • Fill each serving dish with French Onion Soup
    7
    Turn the oven on to Broil. Ladle up the soup into the baking dishes. Fill it with soup about a half inch from the rim of the dish.
  • 8
    Add bread, or croutons, or baguettes, (We lightly toast ours in the toaster first.) Then add the cheeses and broil.
  • Place pan with serving dishes under the broiler
    9
    Place the pan with the baking dishes on the top rack under the broiler. Watch them carefully. It only takes about five minutes!
  • BONNIE‘S FRENCH ONION SOUP
    10
    Here is how it looks! Enjoy!
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