Onion Soup: The Homemade Recipe You'll Love

Onion soup is a classic appetiser that combines flavour, tradition, and simplicity. Originally from France, where it's known as soupe à l'oignon, this humble recipe soon spread throughout Europe and has become a comforting classic enjoyed year-round. That said, it's especially appealing during the colder months, when we want a dish to warm us up and give us that unmistakable sense of well-being. As well as being delicious and versatile enough to serve as either a starter or main course, onion soup is made with easily accessible ingredients, using techniques that pretty much anyone can master. Let's make some together! 

Ingredients for homemade onion soup

To prepare a quick and easy onion soup, you will need the following:

• 4 white onions
• 50g butter
• 10g wheat flour
• 100g grated Emmental cheese
• 1 baguette
• 1L water
• 15ml sunflower oil
• 250ml dry white wine
• salt
• ground black pepper

How to make a perfect onion soup

To prepare a rich onion soup, follow each step of the recipe very carefully. The key to its success lies in caramelising the onions. Let's see how it's done!

1. Cut all the onions into thin "julienne" strips. Heat the oil in a pot and melt 30g of butter. Then add the onions and pepper. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
2. Add the flour and stir. Leave for a couple of minutes before adding the white wine and the full litre of water. Keep stirring! Cook on a low heat for about 30 minutes. Now top up the seasoning with salt and pepper.
3. Cut the baguette into slices, spread butter on both sides and place them in the oven at 180°C for 10 minutes. Then turn them over and leave them for another 10 minutes so both sides are golden brown. In the meantime, start grating the cheese.
4. Serve the onion soup in a bowl, arranging the toast on either side, and sprinkle some grated cheese on top. Next, place the bowls inside the oven, preheated to 220°C, for just a few minutes (no more than five) to let the cheese melt and turn golden. Now all that's left to do is enjoy it!

Tips for making your onion soup even better

Although the basic method is simple, here are a few little tips that turn a good soup into an excellent one. Make a note of the following tips!

• Caramelise the onions. We've already hinted at it, but patience is absolutely crucial. Cook slowly on a low heat until golden brown and sweet, as this really intensifies the flavour.
• Choose some nice bread. A dense type of bread such as a baguette, as we recommend, holds up better to the moisture without falling apart.
• Use different types of cheese. Use Gruyère or any mild, soft cheese. They melt really well and add a creamy texture and extra flavour to the soup.
• Play with textures. Serve the slices of bread separately or directly on top of the soup before grilling the cheese to create a crunchier or soft, gooey texture, depending on what you prefer.

Thanks to these little tricks, your onion soup won't just taste amazing – it'll have the texture and aroma of a professional dish, made right at home. So, here's the big question: are you ready to give this tasty recipe a try?