French Onion Soup

Welcome to the most high-maintenance, but sure-to-be-the-best-you-ever-make-at-home French onion soup recipe!

I actually don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t love French onion soup-even if they hate onions.  Something about the rich beef stock, sweet caramelized onions and ooey-gooey cheese pulls (that all my hopes and dreams are made of) ropes ’em in.

Do I have you hooked?  Good because I’m about to say something that might leave you shook.  YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN VEAL (OR BEEF) STOCK.  I’m sorry.  I speak only the truth.  I have made countless versions of French onion soup with store-bought beef stock of all kinds and it was always missing that rich depth of flavor that this soup requires.

I came across the popular recipe from Petit Trois, a beloved spot in L.A. that I only dream about going to one day.  When my local Whole Foods had veal bones, I jumped at the chance to make this recipe at home.  Stock is surprisingly easy to make because you set it and forget it to come back hours later to a bubbling pot of rich, flavorful stock that blows anything from the store away.  Aside from time (and a big pot), you really don’t need any special skills.  Please, if you do anything I ask, I beg you not to make this recipe unless you make homemade stock.  Plus you can make a big batch and freeze whatever you don’t use for future French onion soup cravings.

Aside from the homemade veal stock, the rest of the recipe is your trusty standard French onion soup ingredients: slow-cooked caramelized onions, garlic, herbs, a little wine, bread and cheese.  Watch this video of Ludo Lefebvre (chef/co-owner of Petit Trois) making the soup to give yourself a head start on what’s involved.  The key is to not cook the onions too long, where they become almost jam-like and deeply browned; you want them to still have some texture and chew, but be soft and sweet.

Full disclosure: I tried so hard to get a good cheese pull for the pictures but I’m just not that skilled yet.  Some day, I will nail it…what a wonderful day that will be.  But for now, just look how pitiful it is!

Just know that despite my slightly-blurry pictures, sad cheese pulls and maybe weird angles…a fantastic French onion soup lies within.  Save this recipe for a cold, rainy day when you have all the time in the world to spare!

[tasty-recipe id=”33953″]