Even if you're trapped inside due to weather, there's a pretty good chance you have an onion and some broth in your pantry, right? Maybe some cheese in the fridge and an old piece of bread? If so, hunker down with a streaming bowl of my favorite soup on earth.
Caramelized Onion Soup with Melted Swiss Crouton
When you caramelize onions, they add a sweet richness to any dish, including this soup. Just make sure you take the time to get the onions golden brown and tender – they should actually look like they’ve been dipped in caramel. I like to use beef broth in my onion soup but you can certainly use a good vegetable broth or chicken broth instead. And, if you have oven-proof soup bowls, you can place the bowls under the broiler for a few minutes to get the cheese golden brown and bubbly before serving.
Serves 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups thinly sliced yellow onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme
6 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
4 slices sourdough bread, about 1 inch thick
4 (1-ounce) slices Swiss cheese
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown and tender. Add the thyme and cook for 1 minute, until the thyme is fragrant. Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Meanwhile, toast the bread slices in a toaster or under the broiler. Place the bread in the bottom of the soup bowls and top with the Swiss cheese. Ladle the onion soup over top and serve.
Nutrients per serving: Calories: 274, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Carbohydrate: 28g, Protein: 15g, Fiber: 3g, Sodium: 340mg