1herb bundlefresh thyme, rosemary and sage sprigs tied together
6slicesbaguette
1tablespoonolive oil
2cupsgruyère cheeseshredded
2-3tablespoonsparmesan cheesefreshly grated
Topping Suggestions:
fresh parsleychopped
freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
Cook Onions: Bring a large Dutch Oven to medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Let butter melt; swirl to coat the pan. Add onions and shallot. Cook on medium heat until softened, about 15 minutes. Increase to medium-high and add additional butter or olive oil, if needed (if pan seems dry). Cook another 30 minutes until caramelized, moving around fairly constantly. Add 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and stir to combine to really get some extra caramelization.
Deglaze Pan: Deglaze pan by adding wine and scraping up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan. The onions should resemble almost a jam-like texture at this point. Add 3 teaspoons garlic and stir to combine.
Finish Soup: Add 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and stir to combine. Slowly add 6-7 cups beef broth, approx. 1/4 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Add 2 teaspoons Better than Bouillon Beef Concentrate, 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, pinch kosher salt and 1 herb bundle. Cover and let simmer 20-30 minutes.
Baguettes: Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450℉. Place baguette slices on baking sheet. Brush with olive oil. Place in oven, middle rack, until browned, approx. 5 minutes (watch closely).
Taste + Adjust: Taste soup and add additional salt, as desired.
Broil: Ladle soup into 4 small bowls or 2 big bowls. Place 2 baguettes on top. Cover with gruyere and parmesan cheese. Place under the broiler until cheese melted and bubbly (watch closely and I would recommend dropping the top rack so it isn't directly under the broiler).
Serve: Remove and let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
Onions: I would recommend you (carefully) use a mandolin to help thinly slice the onions and shallot.
White Wine: use a dry white wine such as a chardonnay.
Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I would recommend making the baguettes as-needed - don't store the baguettes on top of the soup as they will get soggy.
Gluten-Free: use 1-to-1 gluten-free flour and a gluten-free baguette to make this recipe gluten-free.
Dairy-Free: feel free to swap out the butter for vegan butter and choose a dairy-free alternative to the Gruyere and parmesan cheese.