February 2, 2008

Don't Cry for Me, Onion-tina!

Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.

~ Carl Sandberg, poet

I absolutely cannot stand cutting onions. It's not so much the process itself, but the byproduct of the act. Big crocodile tears. Whenever I cut an onion, no matter the variety, my eyes start to burn and then uncontrollably start watering. The irony of it all lies in the fact that the very item that literally brings me to tears also gives me more satisfaction and comfort than many other foods. Onion soup is by far one of my favorite meals. The flavors are so simple, yet so bold at the same time. In my world, onion soup is always (and without exception) topped with crispy bread and good-quality cheese that ends up looking like ooey gooey ribbons from the heat of the soup. Whether having a lighthearted dinner with friends or sitting back for a quiet night in, onion soup adds a feel-good vibe to any moment that very few meals can produce. For this month's Monthly Mingle, hosted by Meeta from What's For Lunch Honey?, the theme is comfort foods. I don't really have a go-to recipe for onion soup, so decided to try a new one I found that includes a little bit of port and cooking a parmesan rind in the soup. I must say that this recipe is my new favorite and has pretty much earned itself the go-to position when it comes to onion soup. No crying here now.

Classic Onion Soup with Gruyere
from Robin Miller

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup port wine
6 cups reduced-sodium beef broth (I used 6 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon Beef Base combined with 6 cups of tepid water)
1 (2-inch) piece Parmesan rind
Reserved bread from bread bowls or 4 slices sourdough baguette, about 1-inch thick and lightly toasted
8 slices Gruyere cheese

All the ingredients, just add water

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and preheat broiler.
  2. Melt butter and oil together in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and sugar and cook 10 minutes, until onions are tender and golden brown. Add thyme, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper and stir to coat. Cook 1 minute, until fragrant. Add port and simmer until liquid is absorbed. Add broth and Parmesan rind and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, partially cover and simmer 20 minutes.

  3. Remove bay leaves and Parmesan rind and ladle soup into oven-proof bowls. Place bowls on a baking sheet. Place reserved bread rounds or a sourdough round into each bowl and top bread with Gruyere cheese. Broil 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.

9 comments:

Emily said...

Oh my goodness! I have the same deal with onions! They make me ball. Doesn't matter what variety, or anything.
It must be our eyes. We're super sensitive.

I love onion soup, and yours looks cheesy and delicious.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah those awful onions! But I still love them and this soup is just another proof why! Lovely!

Jaime said...

i love onion soup! (or anything with onions for that matter) yours looks great!

Helene said...

My moms has the same issue with onions so she peels and cuts them under water. Not practical but it works. Onion soup is a childhood tradtion I miss! Beautiful job!

Anonymous said...

It is extremely interesting for me to read the post. Thanx for it. I like such topics and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.

Anonymous said...

It is rather interesting for me to read this post. Thank you for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to them. I would like to read a bit more soon.

Anonymous said...

Keep on posting such articles. I love to read blogs like that. By the way add some pics :)

Anonymous said...

They are not just limited to adults patients they also have a tendency to children, to put it differently they aid those patients in all avenues of life.

X-rays and an MRI are recommended to be sure there's nothing more significant going on, like a herniated vertebral disc, or a fractured vertebra. Complete rehab solutions provide services for these type people.
Also visit my website ... drugs for treatment of Depression

Anonymous said...

Piece of writing writing is аlso a fun,
if you know аfterward уοu cаn write oг
else it іs compleх to write.

Feel free tо surf to my blog post - tensunitsupplies.com