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Classic French Onion Soup with White Wine and Fresh Herbs
This classic French onion soup recipe is extra special because it is served in sourdough bread bowls. You do not have to use these bowls, of course, but you might like to, especially if you want to impress your dinner guests. Traditional French onion soup is already impressive but using bread bowls gives this soup an added bonus in terms of presentation. Serve the bread bowls inside normal bowls, in case they leak!
This recipe for onion soup features dry white wine to give it an elegant flavor but you could use dry sherry if you prefer. The combination of white and red onions, as well as garlic, shallot and leeks, gives this onion soup plenty of complexity and depth. If you want to make an easy onion soup recipe, which looks, elegant and sophisticated, why not try making this delicious onion soup with wine recipe? It is not difficult at all and it is guaranteed to astonish your dinner guests.
The Gruyere is an optional touch but it adds a classic French onion soup flavor. Gruyere is Swiss actually but it's the typical cheese used in French onion soup recipes.
Creamy Onion Soup with Leeks and Garlic
Ingredients -
½ cup butter
4 round sourdough loaves, about 8 oz each
6 minced cloves garlic
1 chopped big shallot
2 cups chopped white onions
7 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 ¼ cups dry white wine
½ cup heavy cream
1 ½ teaspoons each minced fresh thyme and rosemary
3 cups chopped red onion
2 chopped leeks
8 oz grated Gruyere cheese
Salt and black pepper
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut half an inch off the top of each loaf and scoop out the bread. Leave about half an inch of the shell. Melt half the butter and use it to grease the inside of the sourdough bowls. Put the bread bowls and their lids on the oven rack, greased sides up, and bake for 20 minutes or until crisp. Take them out of the oven.
Melt the remaining butter in a big pot over a moderate to high heat and add the onions, leeks, shallot, and garlic. Cook for 25 minutes, stirring often.
Add the flour and stir the soup for a minute, then add the wine slowly. Boil the soup until it is thick, scraping up any stuck-on burnt bits, for about 5 minutes.
Stir in the stock and fresh herbs and bring the mixture to a boil again.
Turn the heat down to low and let the soup simmer for half an hour.
Stir the cream into the soup and simmer for 15 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper, and then divide the soup between the sourdough bowls.
Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil until it melts.
(Serves 4)
Wine Suggestion:
Which Wine to Serve with Classic French Onion Soup
Serve either a Sauvignon Blanc or a Viognier with this delicious onion soup recipe. California's Central Coast area is a prime growing region for Viognier grapes and this white wine varietal has a semisweet fruit aroma, which is wonderful with the onion soup. Some Viogniers have a flowery taste but it depends on the vintage.
Photo Description:
As you can see from the picture, this is no ordinary onion soup recipe. Containing red onions, white onions, garlic, leeks, and a shallot, this classic onion soup recipe is the perfect appetizer if you are having a dinner party. The creamy Gruyere cheese finishes the soup off perfectly and the combination of fresh herbs and white wine in the soup give it a luxurious flavor. You do not have to serve this onion soup recipe in a sourdough bread bowl but, if you do, the soup will be a great conversation piece.
What is Viognier Wine Like?
When you think of California wine, which ones first come to mind? Perhaps a fruity, lightly oaked Chardonnay or a full-bodied Cabernet are the ones you first think of, but what about Viognier? This wine deserves more than just a mention. Viognier has more than two thousand acres of this vine planted and there are also plantings in France, Brazil, and Australia. Other Viognier vineyards in the United States can be found in New York, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Colorado.
Like Chardonnay grapes, Viognier grapes can be tricky to grow. They are easily infected with mildew if it is too humid or damp in the vineyard. The grapes must be picked at the peak of maturity so you get the best flavor and aroma from the wine. Viognier grapes sometimes develop high sugar and low acid, which means the wines are high in alcohol and do not have much flavor. These potential problems make Viognier wines more expensive than some other varietals.
Viognier wine has a rich gold color. It has a rich and complex aroma, which is a bit like acacia, orange blossoms, or very ripe apricots. Despite the sweet smell, it is a dry wine and if you like Chardonnay, you will probably like Viognier. It has a creamy feel in the mouth, like Chardonnay does, as well as the tropical flavors associated with most Chardonnays. Viognier can be full-bodied like Chardonnay, even with no wood aging. Unlike the more delicate Chardonnay however, the distinctive aroma of Viognier is noticeable even when other grapes are used in the wine. Maybe you have tried a Viognier-Colombard, a Viognier-Chenin Blanc, or a Viognier-Chardonnay alongside your classic French onion soup recipe.
The alcohol in Viognier tends to be on the high side so it is common for vintners to leave a little residual sugar in the mixture to hide the heat. The combination of sweetish hot flavors and heady scents can be overbearing to some people. Viognier also comes in dessert and late harvest versions, which are really smooth and sweet. The striking, fresh aroma is probably the first thing you would notice about a glass of Viognier and this is a wine to drink while it is young unless you have a bottle of Chateau Grillet which can be aged for up to twenty years.
Serving Ideas for Viognier
Viognier is a nice alternative to Gewurztraminer, so if you are serving a curry made with coconut milk, a spicy stir fry, or an oriental spicy dish, why not serve Viognier? If you are serving fruit salsa on top of grilled chicken or fish, Viognier will be wonderful with that too. Try this delicious sweet wine with an easy French onion soup recipe. Its dry flavor but perfumed aroma will go nicely with the sweet yet savory flavor of the onions. Of course, this wine can also be served on its own. A little goes a long way and you might find that one glass of this wine is enough but if you like the thought of a heady aroma and a dry finish, Viognier is one California wine you must taste for yourself.
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