• Home
  • Articles
  • Recipes & How-to’s
  • Ask Paul
  • Videos
  • Media
  • Entrees
      • Spicy Tangerine Salmon Tartare
      • Root Beer Braised Heritage Angus Beef Short Ribs
      • Sweet & Sour Pork & Prawn Stir Fry
      • Lazy Man's Chicken Cordon Bleu
      • Pan Seared Black Cod with Tomato Caper Relish
      • Buttermilk Fried Chicken
      • Succulent Lamb Loin w/ Vanilla Parsnip Puree
      • Mediterranean Quiche
      • Fig & Apple Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
      • Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut
      • Beef Wellington
      • Arugula Pesto Rubbed Rack of Lamb w/ Quinoa Salad
      • Sleemans Honey Brown Brined Pork Chops & Chipotle-Lime Prawns
      • Chipotle Lime Steak Tacos
      • Turkey & Chorizo Stew
      • Farro & Mushroom Risotto
      • Chipotle-Lime BBQ Chicken
      • Applewood Smoked Salmon on the Q!
      • Chipotle Turkey Chili
      • Braised Lamb Shank w/ Creamy Polenta
      • Pimiento Mac n' Cheese
      • Succulent Leg of Tangle Ridge Ranch Lamb
      • BBQ’d Pulled Pork Tacos
      • Beer Brined Sunworks Farm Chicken
      • Braised Back Ribs
      • Braised Pork Belly
      • Classic Toutiere
      • Duck Confit
      • Easy Fresh Pasta Recipe
      • Grilled Serben Free Range Pork Chops, Freestone Peach & Prune Plum Compote, Rainbow Chard Risotto, Roasted Beets
      • Italian Sausage & Bell Pepper Linguine
      • Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi
      • Mom’s Pancit Recipe
      • Pork Belly Sandwich
      • Pork Medallions in Mushroom Cream Sauce
      • Shepherd’s Pie
      • St. Louis Style Ribs
      • Stella Battered Fish & Chips
      • Sundried Tomato-Kalamata Olive Crusted Lois Lake Salmon
      • Veal Osso Bucco
  • Soups
      • Cream of Mushroom Soup
      • Borscht
      • Butternut Squash, Corn & Potato Chowder
      • Classic Turkey Noodle Soup
      • Creamy Leek, Potato and Bacon Soup
      • French Onion Soup
      • Great White Northern Bean & Bacon Soup
      • Pumpkin Stew
      • Spicy Pumpkin Bisque
  • Super Bowl Worthy!
      • Spinach & Artichoke Dip
      • Lazy Man's Fondue
      • Buttermilk Fried Chicken
      • Chipotle Lime Steak Tacos
      • Steak Bite ‘Sandwiches’
      • Chickity Chinese Chicken Wings
      • Classic Hot Wings
      • BBQ’d Pulled Pork Tacos
      • Bacon-Jalapeno-Cheddar Cornbread
      • Poutine
      • Bacon Cheeseburger Perogies
      • St. Louis Style Ribs
  • Apps
      • Spinach & Artichoke Dip
      • Lazy Man's Fondue
      • Lobster & Green Pea Arancini with Saffron Aioli
      • Baked Brie
      • Cranberry, Proscuitto & Brie Montecristos
      • Panko Crusted Goat Cheese Bites
      • Pickled Red Onions
      • Chipotle Lime Steak Tacos
      • Smoky Valley Goat Cheese Panna Cotta w/ Quick Pickled Beets
      • Farro & Mushroom Risotto
      • Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Pizza
      • Steak Bite ‘Sandwiches’
      • Smoked Salmon Blinis
      • Crispy Lobster Corn Dogs
      • Chickity Chinese Chicken Wings
      • Classic Hot Wings
      • Goat Cheese Gougeres
      • Poutine
      • Bacon Cheeseburger Perogies
      • Beef Carpaccio
      • Steak Tartar
      • Cranberry Brie French Toast Bites
      • Truffle-Honey & Thyme Cracker Jacks
      • Bloody Caesar Oysters
      • Crispy Coconut Prawn Lollipops
  • Desserts
      • Warm Peach Cobbler
      • Classic Vanilla Ice Cream
      • Instant Chocolate Sponge w/ Red Wine Raspberries
      • Tasty Popsicles & Poptails
      • Belgian Waffles, House Made Nutella, Greek Yoghurt & Fresh Berries
      • Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
      • Chocolate Mousse
      • Coconut Cream Pie
      • Mint Mascarpone Cream
      • Okanagan Peach Tart with Mint Mascarpone and Pinot Noir Cherry Compote
      • Pinot Noir Cherry Compote
      • White Chocolate Raspberry Crème Brulee
      • Classic Panna Cotta
      • White Chocolate Mousse
  • Misc
      • Versatile Pie Dough
      • Pickled Red Onions
      • Aged Cheddar Biscuits
      • Tasty Popsicles & Poptails
      • Montreal Smoked Meat
      • Pork Belly Pastrami
      • Sticky Sweet Apple Jack BBQ Sauce
      • Strawberries n’ Cream French Toast Waffles
  • Sauces, Dressings and Vinagrettes
      • Fresh Apricot & Mint Jam
      • Tomato Caper Relish
      • Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
      • Hollandaise Sauce
      • Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
      • Orange Sambal Beurre Blanc
  • Meals in a hurry
      • Sweet & Sour Pork & Prawn Stir Fry
      • Lazy Man's Chicken Cordon Bleu
      • Chipotle Lime Steak Tacos
      • Pimiento Mac n' Cheese
      • Beer Brined Sunworks Farm Chicken
      • Italian Sausage & Bell Pepper Linguine
      • Mom’s Pancit Recipe
      • Pork Medallions in Mushroom Cream Sauce
      • Shepherd’s Pie
      • Stella Battered Fish & Chips
  • Sides
      • Brome Lake Duck Confit Spring Rolls
      • Tomato Caper Relish
      • Lobster & Green Pea Arancini with Saffron Aioli
      • Yam Casserole
      • Aged Cheddar Biscuits
      • Bacon & Raisin Roasted Brussel Sprouts
      • Curd Cheese Mashed Potatoes
      • Butternut Squash Hash
      • Bacon Roasted Brussel Sprouts
      • Pimiento Mac n' Cheese
      • Greek Potatoes
      • Bacon-Jalapeno-Cheddar Cornbread
      • Beet Chips
      • Creamed Swiss Chard
      • Creamy Goat Cheese Potatoes au Gratin
      • Crispy Carrot, Orange and Ginger Pickles
      • Fresh Salsa
      • Pickled Beets
      • Pineapple-Mango Salsa
      • Roasted Beets with Maple-Bourbon Butter
      • Salsa Verde
      • Spicy Pickled Beans
      • Spicy Tomato Rice
      • Stone Ground Mustard Spelt Spaetzle
  • Sandwiches
      • The Perfect BLT
      • Holiday Turkey Burger
      • Classic Cuban Sandwich
      • Italian Meatball Sub
      • Turkey & Brie Monte Cristo
  • Cocktails
      • Summertime Sangria
      • The Paloma
      • Watermelon Fizz
      • Dragon's Breath Mojito
      • Victoria Gin & Tonic
      • Bloody Caesar Oysters
      • Chai Eggnog
      • Blackberry Gin Fizz
      • Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate
      • Tasty Popsicles & Poptails
      • Hot Buttered Rum
      • Candy Cane Martini
      • Cranberry Ginger Holiday Punch
      • After Eight Martini
      • Santa’s Little Helper
      • Holiday Eggnog
      • The Red Stiletto
  • Salads
      • Panzanella Salad
      • Smoky Valley Goat Cheese Panna Cotta w/ Quick Pickled Beets
      • Summer Kale Salad
      • Heirloom Tomato Salad w/ Toasted Bocconcini
      • Fennel, Orange & Walnut Salad
      • Garden Bean Salad
      • Rocket Salad with Marinated Flank Steak
      • Tuna Nicoise Salad
  • Breakfast
      • Classic Eggs Benedict
Paul’s latest column Recipes & How-to’ Ask Paul

French Onion Soup

2 large yellow onions, peeled and julienned
1 large red onion, peeled and julienned
3 shallots, peeled and julienned
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 tbsp. butter
3 oz. sherry
1.5 lt. veal stock (you can substitute beef or chicken stock, some chefs even use a blend of the two)
3 pc. bay leaves
2 sprig thyme
2 sprig rosemary
1 tsp. black peppercorns
TT salt
4 slices baguettes
4 slices gruyere

This recipe is very much about simple ingredients and gently cooking them, allowing their full flavours to shine through. It’s the slow and steady caramelization of the onions that provides this dish with its sweetness and complexity.

  1. Place a medium sauce pot on medium heat, add the butter, followed by the onions, shallots and garlic
  2. Allow this medley of onions to slowly caramelize, stirring regularly, you are looking for the onions to become evenly golden brown. This may take upwards of 45 minutes, but it is well worth the wait. It’s all about building flavours
  3. Deglaze the pan with the sherry, and allow to reduce
  4. Deglaze again with the veal stock, allow to come to a slow simmer, and reduce by one third
  5. Prepare a sachet, by placing the herbs, bay leaves and peppercorns in cheesecloth and tying closed to create a beggar’s purse ( in a bind I have been known to use a coffee filter and do the same thing!) Tie the sachet to the handle of the pot, and immerse the sachet in the stock, allow to simmer until the soup is a nice thick consistency, remember this soup is hearty
  6. Adjust the seasoning to your liking and remove from heat
  7. Preheat your oven to broil
  8. Place the soup in an oven proof onion soup bowl and top with day old baguette, then top with a nice thick slice of gruyere, don’t cheap out and buy Swiss cheese, you’ve worked so hard to make a great soup, finish it the way it’s meant to be!
  9. Melt under the broiler until nicely browned, 1-2 minutes

Enjoy this rich dish on a cold winter’s day, and try to resist the temptation to dig right in. I don’t know how many times I have burnt my tongue on French onion soup because the anticipation was killing me.




Copyright © 2023 Paul Shufelt. All Rights Reserved

Cleantalk Pixel