French Onion Soup! 🎃
Happy Haunting Soup Season!!
Ingredients:
🧅 Yellow onion
🧅 Red onion
🧅 Beef broth
🧅 Provalone cheese
🧅 Garlic bread
🧅 Mirin
Yes I know it is not traditional! Now that that’s out of the way. I didn’t have any cooking sherry but I had mirin and I had no idea that was 9% alcohol so make sure you get it cooked out! I used just a splash right before the onions were cooked all the way down and by then it will be cooked out and it’s fine! The trick to the onions is cooking them very low and slow so they don’t burn but get nice and carmelized. I used provalone because that’s what I had and honestly it was sooooo good but if you like a meltier cheese guyere is a great one! I used garlic bread instead of a French baguette because… well, I just wanted to! As always tweak it how you like it!!
French Onion Soup is a classic comfort food that truly shines in autumn and during Halloween festivities. The key to its rich, sweet flavor lies in caramelizing the onions slowly over low heat without burning them, allowing natural sugars to develop fully. Using a mix of yellow and red onions can add depth and subtle sweetness, enhancing the broth's complexity. Many traditional recipes call for sherry or dry white wine, but substituting mirin — a slightly sweet Japanese rice wine with 9% alcohol — can add a unique dimension to the flavor profile. When adding mirin, it’s important to cook it long enough to burn off alcohol while preserving its sweetness. Adding it just before the onions are fully caramelized ensures maximum flavor impact without harshness. The choice of cheese greatly affects texture and taste. While Gruyère is classic for its meltiness and nuttiness, provolone offers a great alternative with a rich, creamy melt and slightly tangy flavor. Using garlic bread instead of traditional French baguette is a fun variation that adds robust garlic notes and a satisfying crunch – perfect for dipping. This recipe invites personalization to suit your palate and pantry. You can experiment with different cheese types like mozzarella, Emmental, or even Parmesan. Broth options such as vegetable broth or mushroom broth can offer vegetarian or vegan alternatives, although beef broth adds the characteristic savory depth. For an extra festive touch around Halloween, consider adding themed garnishes like crispy fried onions shaped like little ghosts or decorative pumpkin-shaped croutons. This soup is not only hearty and warming but also adaptable, making it a perfect dish to enjoy all season long.