French onion soup

classic French Onion Soup recipe for you:

Ingredients:

• 4 large onions, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
• 8 cups beef broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Baguette slices
• Gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated

Instructions:

1. In a large soup pot, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the sliced onions to the pot and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the onions are caramelized and golden brown. This process may take about 30-40 minutes.
3. Sprinkle sugar over the caramelized onions to help with the browning process and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Add minced garlic to the pot and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
5. If using wine, pour it into the pot to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
6. Pour in the beef broth and add bay leaves and dried thyme. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for another 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
7. While the soup is simmering, preheat the broiler. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler until golden brown on both sides.
8. Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls. Place a couple of toasted baguette slices on top of each bowl.
9. Sprinkle a generous amount of grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese over the bread in each bowl.
10. Place the bowls under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly, with a golden brown crust.
11. Carefully remove from the broiler (bowls will be hot!), let them cool for a minute, and serve hot.

Enjoy your delicious homemade French Onion Soup!