Creamy French Onion Soup Recipe
Creamy French Onion Soup Recipe, the marriage of Cream of Onion Soup and our favorite Easy French Onion Soup Recipe.
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 a creamy French Onion Soup Recipe.
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 of my favorite French Onion Soup recipe. This amalgamation of Cream of Onion Soup and my French Onion Soup recipe is a lovely diversion from the original.
With the silky texture of Cream of Onion Soup and and deep complexity of a good French Onion Soup, this Creamy French Onion Soup Recipe 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 Creamy French Onion Soup Recipe is oh so delightful, and is sure to be a new favorite in your house!
More Sensational Soups:
Nearly Famous Chicken Tortilla Soup
Rosemary Red Bean Soup ~ An Edible Mosaic
Roasted Tomato Soup ~ The Hungry Housewife
French Onion Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 3 pounds onions, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 large Russet potato, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 6 cups water
- 2 tablespoon Beef Base Paste + 1 teaspoon
- 2 cups dry white wine
- 1 Bouquet Garni, small fresh herb bouquet with thyme and a bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/3-1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 cup shredded Fontina cheese
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, add the butter and saute the onions, potato and garlic over medium heat, until soft and brown, burned. This may take 30+ minutes; add 1 tablespoon of 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 or glass to cut out 8+ circles the size of your serving cups.
- Sprinkle the puff pastry rounds 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.
My mom’s favorite soup! I’ll have to make your version for her.
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!
Where can I buy the bowls PLEASE
You’re a GENIUS! Love!!!
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?
Oh dear Lord, FEED MY FACE.
AWESOMENESS in a bowl. I love that 3rd photograph.
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!
So different, looks yum!
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!
a bowl of this delicious soup would have a special memory for me as well. And the cheese pillows. mm
I’m such a fan of onion soup and this sounds so unique. I love it!
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.
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!
This soup is incredible! And I absolutely love those bowls.
I love those cheese pillows! Awesome!
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!
That’s one happy marriage and one happy memory!