Creamy French Onion Soup
Creamy French Onion Soup. The marriage of two wonderful creations: Cream of Onion Soup and Easy French Onion Soup.
I have two early memories of soup from my childhood.
The first is of my mother picking me up from a preschool that looked like a little covered wagon on top of a hill. She would bring me home and make tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I remember the giddy anticipation and restlessness I felt, waiting the 15 minutes it took to prepare.
My second soup memory, was the first time I tasted French Onion Soup.
When I was small, my parents took me to fund raiser called Souper Sunday. Area restaurants would provide cauldrons of their best soups and people would come to sip and take part in a silent auction.
I remember looking up at a man in a tall funny white hat as he handed me a bowl of dark broth, half-covered with bread and cheese. As I dipped into my cup, scooping up bits of onion, bread saturated with rich beef stock, and cheese, I suddenly felt like I was being let in on a marvelous secret. The complexity of the winey stock, along with the slippery slivers of onion and salty beef essence, had me at first taste. This would forever be my favorite soup.
This week, I wanted to prepared a smooth creamy version. This amalgamation of Cream of Onion Soup and my Easy French Onion Soup is a lovely diversion from the original.
With the silky texture of Cream of Onion Soup and and deep complexity of Easy French Onion Soup, this creamy variety is giving my beloved favorite a run for the money.
Because of the thickness of the soup, I decided it would benefit from a light crispy topping, instead of the traditional over-sized crouton. Here we have puff pastry “Cheese Pillows” to float on each cup. This soup is oh so delightful, and is sure to be a new favorite in your house!
COOK’S NOTES:
Because this soup is pureed, don’t worry about perfect slices of onion, just chop them roughly.
You can use beef stock if you like, but I find using Beef Base allows me to create a stronger beef flavor. Beef Base is highly concentrated beef stock.
No immersion blender? You can also use a stand blender, but be careful. Work in small batches, and place a towel over the OPEN vent in the lid. That way the steam can escape, but you don’t get sprayed with hot soup.
Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cream of Onion Soup
Creamy French Onion Soup with Cheese Pillows
Ingredients:
5 Tb. butter
3 lbs. onions, peeled and roughly chopped
1 large Russett potato, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 Tb. honey
6 cups water
2 Tb. + 1 tsp. Beef Base Paste
2 cups dry white wine
1 Bouquet Garni (small fresh herb bouquet with thyme and a bay leaf)
1 Tb. balsamic vinegar
1/3-1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and Pepper
1-2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 cup shredded Fontina cheese
Directions:
In a large saucepan, add the butter and saute the onions, potato and garlic over medium heat, until soft and brown, NOT burned. This may take 30+ minutes; add 1 Tb. honey about 15 minutes in, to help caramelize. Lower the heat if needed.
De-glaze the pan with 2 cups wine. Then add the water, beef base, and bouquet garni.
Simmer another 15 minutes, then remove the bouquet garni and puree with an immersion blender.
Stir in the balsamic vinegar and cream. Then salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a cookie cutter of glass to cut out 8+ circles the size of your serving cups.
Sprinkle with Fontina cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until lightly golden and fluffy.
Serve the soup with a cheese pillow on top of each cup.
More Sensational Soups:
Nearly Famous Chicken Tortilla Soup
Rosemary Red Bean Soup ~ An Edible Mosaic
Roasted Tomato Soup ~ The Hungry Housewife
Irish Beef Stew ~ The Little Kitchen
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That’s one happy marriage and one happy memory!
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despite the fact that I love the stuff, I’ve never made French Onion Soup. too lazy! reading your recipe however sure makes me think I’ve been wary for no good reason. thanks for sharing your memories and your recipes, Spicy!
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I love those cheese pillows! Awesome!
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This soup is incredible! And I absolutely love those bowls.
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It’s so rare that I get to enjoy onion soup because it tends to be meat based… that’s not an issue, it sure does taste better when it has that rich broth. But it just means that I don’t get to have it as often as I’d like.
It does look marvelous, though… and thank you for sharing your memories with us!
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This is one amazing looking french onion soup from those rustic bowls to the cheese puffs! I’ve always wanted to make french onion soup at home and yet never have.
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I’m such a fan of onion soup and this sounds so unique. I love it!
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a bowl of this delicious soup would have a special memory for me as well. And the cheese pillows. mm
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I never used to make pureed soups before I was given an immersion blender. Makes life so much easier! Now I use it all the time. I love that you did a creamy version of onion soup!
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So different, looks yum!
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AWESOMENESS in a bowl. I love that 3rd photograph.
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Oh dear Lord, FEED MY FACE.
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This soup looks great. I especially love the pillows! Normal croutons get so soggy, but these are light and airy and just sit right on top of the soup cup – awesome!
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LOVE everything about this soup! My experience was somewhat similar to yours. When I took the first sip of french onion soup, I KNEW this would be my favorite soup, FOREVER!! And it still is. Love the puffy pillows on top of your soup, perfect for the creamy soup. How did you make the cheese pillows?
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You’re a GENIUS! Love!!!
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Where can I buy the bowls PLEASE
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I loved reading your childhood memories! Funnily enough, I have very distinct memories about the first time I ate French Onion Soup, too. My best friend & I were sharing a hotel room on a high school music trip and we ordered French Onion Soup from room service. I was hooked! The puff pastry crouton on this soup is brilliant!
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My mom’s favorite soup! I’ll have to make your version for her.
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What a marvelous soup!!! The puffed crouton is brilliant! I also love your sweet childhood memories…
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Looks delish! Love the photo’s!!
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Love french onion soup, and this recipe is begging for me to recreate it soon!! Ah, that bowls are so pretty
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Oh I can never have enough onion soup. one of my fav, love the pillows!
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I grew up eating soup as an appetizer for almost every meal in Serbia, but the first time I tasted French Onion Soup in the U.S. I was hooked. I made it for my dad when he visited, and now it’s his favorite soup too! So humble, so easy, and so packed with flavor, it’s the epitome of comfort for me.
I love the creamy version and puff pastry cheese puff on top:) And your rustic dishes are lovely:) Have a great weekend!
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What a nice variation. I’ve been craving French Onion Soup lately, and this would be fun change. Thanks
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I was wondering what kind of onion soup , first I would have thought it was hot chocolate if I had not seen the name! Perfectly pureed!
Love the cheese puffs!!
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Thanks so much for stopping by with your well wishes the other day. You kindness and prayers mean a lot to me!
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Hi THere,
The bowls are gorgeous and i guess the soup with those beautiful cheese pillows is just out of the world ! Cheers !
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This is lovely and looks so professional!
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I love how you did the cheese. That is so clever.
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Oh wow – this looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing
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