A sample bite from the book: French Onion Soup Prep Time: 10 Minutes // Cook Time: 2½ Hours // Makes: 8 Servings French onion soup is perhaps the most iconic and well-traveled of all French dishes. Worldwide, it has seduced more stomachs than even our beloved New England clam chowder, which, incidentally, is based upon another French export. I once read that onion soup was “invented” by Louis XV. In this histoire, Louis was out hunting with the boys when they returned to the hunting lodge and found nothing but a couple of onions and a bottle of Champagne in the cupboards. What was a poor monarch supposed to do but improvise? The truth is that onion soup has been simmering in farmhouse kitchens since the birth of time; it is a dish born of frugality and circumstance. There are many versions, and mine is the remembered flavors from my youth—the way my family made it. Please feel free to substitute my Homemade Chicken Stock (page 70) for beef broth or even water. The real flavor comes from the deep caramelization of the onions. The croutons and cheesy topping are key to the success of any onion soup. I like to use Emmental and mozzarella in a three-to-one ratio. The mozzarella really adds a beautiful molten quality. Add as much cheese as you want. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. In a large Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat, melt the butter until foamy. Add the bacon and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the onions are soft and lightly browned, about 30 minutes. 2. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are very brown, about 1 1/2 hours. Adjust the heat even lower, if necessary, to keep them from burning. The sweetness and richness of flavor comes from this step. 3. Sprinkle the onions with the flour (if using; this addition gives the soup a bit more depth and body). Add the stock, wine, thyme, and bay leaf and simmer until golden brown with a rich taste, about 30 minutes. 4. While the soup is simmering, make the croutons. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the baguette slices directly on the oven racks and bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and preheat the broiler. 5. In a small bowl, combine the cheeses. To serve, ladle the soup into 8 ovenproof bowls, and then top each with 2 bread slices and 1/4 cup of the cheese. Working in batches if necessary, set the bowls on a baking sheet and broil until the cheese is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Ingredients: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 strips bacon, diced 4 sweet onions (2 to 2½ pounds total), sliced paper thin 4 garlic cloves, mashed 10 cups Homemade Chicken Stock (page 70), beef stock, or water 16 baguette slices 6 ounces Emmental cheese (or Gruyère, Swiss, or Cantal), shredded 2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
✔ Author(s): François de Mélogue
✔ Title: French Cooking for Beginners: 75+ Classic Recipes to Cook Like a Parisian
✔ Rating : 4.6 out of 5 base on (475 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1646115899
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about French Cooking for Beginners by François de Mélogue
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