Soup du Jour Recipe

Have you ever been to a fancy restaurant, tried the soup du jour, and could not wait until the next night out to try another staple of the day? Soup du jour is a soup featured by a restaurant on any given day. The spécialité.

It could literally be any soup a restaurant decides to serve. But the most common you will find in any French restaurant is onion soup.

So today we will opt for the most delicious soup du jour recipe in the world 一 classic French onion soup topped with cheesy garlic bread for an incredible flavor palate.

How to Make Soup du Jour

Our soup du jour features deeply caramelized onions that create a stock filled with the huge depth of flavor of a classic French onion soup. The soup is simmered with white wine and fresh herbs and finished off with the incredibly tasty garlic bread with melted cheese.

With so much flavor in this French Onion soup du jour, you might think it requires too many complex ingredients. In fact, there are only 2 key ingredients: stock and onions.

So, don’t be intimidated to make it at home or you’ll regret not trying this restaurant-level onion soup.

If it makes it any easier for you, check out the rest of the ingredients to see that you probably already have them in your pantry.

Ingredients:

(3-6 servings)

• 6 large red or yellow onions
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp brandy (optional)
• 8 cups beef stock
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp sugar
• Kosher salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 8 slices of French bread or baguette (1 inch thick)
• 1 cup grated Gruyere
• Sprinkling of Parmesan

Instructions:

Since stock and onions are the main ingredients, our Soup du Jour will be as good as the stock and caramelized onions allow.

Traditionally, the recipe of the French onion soup calls for beef stock. However, since it may be hard to make, go with a store-bought. It is important to taste it first though — if you don’t like it, don’t use it.

The second important thing is the caramelized onions. And although many are scared by this process, you shouldn’t be, as it is easier than it seems. The onions and the sugar just need to reach the right temperature. The more caramelized the onions, the deeper the flavors of your soup.

We’ll take you through every tiny detail step-by-step, so you can impress everyone with your Soup du Jour.

Step 1:

Caramelize the onions. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and toss to coat with the oil.

Cook the onions for about 15-20 minutes, stirring often until they soften. Then, increase the heat to medium-high and add the remaining olive oil and the butter. Continue stirring often for another 15 minutes until the onions start to brown.

Sprinkle with sugar and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes until the onions are nicely browned. After that, add the garlic and cook for a minute.

Step 2:

Deglaze the pot with the white wine. Add the wine to the pot and scrape the browned bits from the sides and bottom of the pot.

Step 3:

Add beef stock, thyme, and bay leaves and bring to simmer. Lower the heat and cover the pot for a low simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes.

Season it to taste with salt and black pepper, and discard the bay leaf.

Step 4:

Toast the French bread while the soup is simmering. Preheat the oven to 450 °F and cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Lightly brush both sides of the French bread slices with olive oil, and put them in the oven to toast until lightly browned. It should take no longer than 5-7 minutes.

Remove the bread slices from the oven and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and Gruyere. When it’s close to serving time, return them back to the oven until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Step 5:

It’s time to serve our Soup du Jour. Ladle the soup into a bowl and top each bowl with cheesy toast. Et voilà. Your onion soup will taste just like France!

Ingredient Substitution

Since Soup du Jour varies per restaurant and day, you can pretty much substitute any ingredient in this French onion soup and make any other soup of your preference.

On the other hand, if you want to keep the authentic deep flavors of our French onion homemade soup, there is not much room for replacements. However, there is still something you could try out.

White wine vinegar

When the recipe calls for white wine and you prefer not to use alcohol, white wine vinegar is an ideal substitute, especially for deglazing a pan. It has all of the same characteristics, except alcohol.

Keep in mind that white wine vinegar is much more acidic. So, dilute the vinegar with water 50:50 to tame the acidity. Or even fail to use it all together by adding some extra beef stock.

Chicken stock

Although the original French Onion Soup du Jour requires beef stock, you can use chicken stock as an alternative. Chicken broth adds a mild flavor and lighter color. This salty and savory liquid goes as a good one-to-one replacement.

Besides, chicken stock is low in calories and high in sodium, just like beef stock.

What to Serve with Soup du Jour

The French onion soup, unlike many other broth-based soups, is filling enough to go as the main dish. So, you might be wondering which side dishes would best complement this rich and hearty onion soup.

Keep on reading. We know what works best here.

Grilles salmon

Maybe you wouldn’t guess, but seafood works fantastically well with French onion soup, especially if it’s grilled salmon.

The lightly fat pink fish perfectly balances the richness of our Soup du Jour. A perfectly grilled salmon with some dressing made of garlic, herbs, butter, and lemon juice complements the umami flavor of the onion soup and makes it just right.

Country fried steak

You can never go wrong with a steak. So, the best side dish you can serve after a bowl of this French onion soup is just that — steak. The specific kind doesn’t really matter, as any will work well with the onion soup.

However, to give your steak a restaurant-style appeal, cook it with garlic, butter, and some thyme dressing.

How to Reheat Soup du Jour

The best thing about making a big pot of soup is it’s super easy to save the leftovers for later. And it is extremely easy to reheat.

So, take a look at these 3 different ways to reheat French onion soup.

Reheat Soup du Jour in a Stove

To preheat the French onion soup in a stove, just pour your leftover soup into a cold pot and heat over medium heat. Be sure to stir constantly to keep the onions from sticking to the bottom and burning.

Reheat Soup du Jour in an Oven

Yes, you could reheat your soup in an oven. Just preheat it to 350 ºF, place the French onion soup into a large oven-safe dish, and cover with foil. Heat for 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally.

Reheat Soup du Jour in a Microwave

Nothing fancy in reheating your Onion Soup du Jour in a microwave. Just pour it into a microwave-safe dish and cover it with plastic wrap or a paper towel to prevent it from splattering. Heat on high for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the soup is hot.

How to Store Soup du Jour

Nothing tastes better than a hot bowl of French onion soup on a chilly day. However, making one each time you’re in the mood is time-consuming, considering how long it takes to caramelize the onions.

That’s why making a large amount is a perfect idea. You just need to store it properly, so it will taste as good as on day one.

Store Soup du Jour in a Fridge

If you plan on enjoying this French onion soup every day, storing it in a fridge is more than enough. When stored in an airtight container, it could last for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.

For longer storage consider a freezer.

Store Soup du Jour in a Freezer

If you decide to store your Soup du Jour in a freezer, just keep these things in mind: make sure the soup is completely cooled before you freeze it. This way, no moisture will form in the airtight container you store it in. Also, remove the cheese and bread from the soup, since they don’t freeze well.

Finally use only sealed containers or heavy-duty freezer bags to portion the onion soup. Only these will keep the soup in a vacuum-like environment. The French onion soup will last about 3 months in a freezer.