Le Onion Soup

Written by Todd

Topics: Dinner, Lunch, Soups and Salads

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French Onion Soup

In France it’s just called Onion Soup, but here in les États-Unis, we often refer to this tasty and simple dish as French Onion Soup.  I’ve not really investigated the etymology of the naming of this particular soup, but I do know that the times I’ve been in France I’ve eaten it with much delight!

The only real challenge here for the gluten free crowd is going to be the crusty bread that adorns the top of the soup.  In this version, I toasted up some of the Food For Life Wheat & Gluten Free Brown Rice Bread.

The version of onion soup I’ve been pretty fond of during this Winter of Soups (more on that in a later post) uses 2 types of onions and both white and red wine.  One other little twist here is that I’m only using the Trader Joe’s Chicken Broth; I use reduced sodium but then add Johnny’s.  Most of the time you’ll see beef broth called for, but Shani thinks cows are cute and won’t eat them.  I think they are delicious, as are lambs and pigs and kangaroos!

Here’s the ingredient list for my French Onion Soup:

  • 1 tbsp. Butter
  • 2 tbsp. Trader Giotto’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1/2 sweet yellow onion
  • 32oz. Trader Joe’s Chicken Broth
  • Savingion Blanc – a glass or a little more (I used Stonehedge here, $4.99, not bad)
  • Cabernet Savingnon – a glass in my tummy and 1 in the soup (I used Red Diamond, a good all around everyday drinking red)
  • Johnny’s Seasoning Salt to taste
  • Bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Dried Thyme
  • Food For Life Wheat & Gluten Free Brown Rice Bread
  • Trader Giotto’s Quattro Formagio cheese

I’m using my Staub Cocotte for this soup, which is what I used for most of the soups this Winter.  I can’t recommend this “French Oven” enough, although if you already have a Dutch Oven I suppose that will work!

Over medium heat, let the olive oil and butter heat up.  I slice the onions about a 1/4 inch or so thick  and then cut them in half, I like the big pieces of onion and it mimics what I had in France.  I season them with Johnny’s while they are still on the cutting board.  Once the oil is hot, in go the onions.  I stir them frequently and sip my wine.  I keep them at the same heat and occasionally stir until the white onions are bit brown (25 minutes or so).   The longer you can cook the onions the better.  If you go this route, turn the heat down a bit.  I’m usually in a hurry, so 1/2 an hour in, with occasional stirring, I’m ready to move to the next steps.

Now it’s time to add the broth, both colors of wine, the bay leaf, sugar and the thyme if you’re going that route.  In my world, the bay leaf and thyme are totally optional here, so work with what you’ve got.

Simmer the soup while you toast the Food For Life Wheat & Gluten Free Brown Rice Bread slices.  Once these have gotten a bit of a brown on them you’re ready to serve my version of this soup. Some versions have you ladle out your soup and then toss the bread on top, add cheese and stick the bowl under the broiler to ‘toast’ the cheese a bit.   If you are serving gluten free guests and want to impress, by all means, do this.  Otherwise just ladle up some of the onion soup, put the toasted Food For Life Wheat & Gluten Free Brown Rice Bread on the top, grab some cheese (you’re an adult, I’m not going to tell  you how much to use) and put it on top and enjoy!

I love French food, and I’ll post more of my gluten free versions in the future.

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What are some of your favorite gluten free French recipes or French Recipes you’d like me to convert to Gluten Free?

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2 Comments For This Post I'd Love to Hear Yours!

  1. Rob says:

    Hi Todd,

    I am a big fan of French Onion Soup, and this recipe looks delicious! I’m going to have to try it out some time. A lot of times I’m too lazy to cook, so I just spring for the frozen “Plats Du Chef” French onion soup at Trader Joe’s. It takes about 8 minutes in the microwave and is pretty tasty.

    • Shani says:

      Hi Rob-
      Thanks for posting! Your tips on your site for adding cheese to the french onion soup are great! Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it is gluten free! Are the croutons separate or part of the mix?