French onion soup
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 Plate of french onion soup. |
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| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | France |
| Creator(s) of the dish | Multiple claims |
| Dish details | |
| Main ingredient(s) | Onion Beef broth Croutons Cheese |
| Variations | Vegan Versions |
French onion soup is an onion and beef broth or beef stock based soup traditionally served with croutons and cheese as toppings. Although ancient in origin, this dish underwent a resurgence of popularity in the 1960s due to the growth of French cooking in the United States.[1]
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[edit] History
Onion soups have been popular at least as far back as Roman times. They were, throughout history, seen as food for the poor people, as onions were plentiful and easy to grow. The modern version of this soup originates in France in the 18th century,[1] made from beef broth, and caramelized onions. It is often finished by being placed under a broiler in a ramekin traditionally with croutons and gruyère melted on top. The crouton on top is reminiscent of ancient sops (see History of Soup).
[edit] Preparation
The rich flavor of the base is not due just to the broth, but to the caramelized onions.[2] Caramelization, in this case, is the procedure in which the onions are cooked slowly until the melting sugars approach burning temperature, becoming brown. This can be accomplished within half an hour, but many chefs and cooks allow for hours of cooking to bring out the complex flavors of the onions' sugars. In the final stages of cooking, cognac or sherry is often used to enhance the caramelized onion flavor and to deglaze the pan.[3]
The base is usually topped with the crouton,[3] which will be very dry and crusty to allow it to withstand lying on the soup surface while baked or broiled with a good melting cheese on top. The soup is then served in the bowl or ramekin in which it was broiled or baked.
[edit] Variations
Variations of the basic recipe include:
- A vegetarian variation using vegetable stock instead of beef stock .[4].
- Another version is using chicken stock instead of beef stock, for those who prefer chicken.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b French onion soup at The Food Timeline website
- ^ French Onion Soup at marthastewart.com
- ^ a b frenchonionsoups.com
- ^ Bennett, Beverly L.,Vegetarian French Onion Soup at The Vegan Chef
[edit] External links
- Really recipe of the onion soup (French)
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