Madeira Onion Soup Recipes

ONION SOUP WITH GRUYERE AND MADEIRA

Steps:

• Place the onion, butter, oil, thyme, bay leaves, salt, sugar and paprika powder in a large heavy-based saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 40 minutes, stirring from time to time. The onions should be dark golden and soft.
• Stir in the flour and cook over a low heat for a further 10 minutes.
• Pour in the wine, stir to combine, and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the stock and cook over a medium heat for a further 20 minutes (the soup can be prepared up to 48 hours ahead up to this point and re-heated when needed).
• Preheat the oven to 190C-375F
• Scatter a little cheese (don't use it all) over the bottom of 8 oven-proof soup bowls placed on a baking sheet.
• Pour in the soup, rub the toast slices with the garlic clove and float on the top of soup.
• Top with the remaining cheese and place in the oven until bubbling and golden brown, about 10-20 minutes.
• Beat together the egg yolks, cream, brandy and Madeira. When the soup is ready to serve, lift the cheesy crust and pour cream mixture into the soup, or serve in a jug and offer separately to your guests.

ONION SOUP WITH RAISINS AND MADEIRA

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil over medium low heat in large kettle. Add onions, salt, sugar and pepper and stir well. Cook very gently 30-40 minutes until limp and well caramelized. Add the garlic, cloves, paprika and raisins and cook one minute until their aromas are released. Add Madeira and simmer until reduced by half. Add stock, bring to the boil, then lower heat and simmer covered one hour, then simmer uncovered 30 minutes more. Place one crouton in the bottom of each serving bowl and ladle soup over.

RESTAURANT-STYLE FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onions, garlic, salt, black pepper, and thyme until onions are soft and brown, about 30 minutes. Pour in red wine and sherry; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until you can no longer smell alcohol cooking off, about 15 more minutes.
• Sprinkle onion mixture with flour and stir until coated; cook for 10 minutes. Pour in broth, stir to blend in flour, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) while soup is simmering. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
• Toast the baguette slices in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes, turning the bread over halfway through cooking. Remove toast and set aside.
• Set an oven rack about 8 inches from the heat source and turn on the oven's broiler.
• Ladle soup into 6 oven-proof crocks, filling them about 3/4 full. Place 1 or 2 bread slices into the bowls and top each with a slice of Swiss cheese and a slice of provolone. Carefully place filled crocks onto a sturdy baking sheet.
• Broil soup until the cheese is browned and bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes.

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, heavy pot over medium. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and beginning to turn golden, 35 to 40 minutes (if onions develop color quickly, reduce heat).
• Add butter, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring a few times, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Add vermouth and boil, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot, until mostly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in stock and Marsala. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and gently simmer 45 minutes. Season to taste.
• Preheat broiler. Ladle soup into broiler-safe crocks or bowls set on a rimmed baking sheet. Nestle a piece of toast into each, partially submerged, and top each with 1/3 cup Gruyère. Broil until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown in places, 2 to 4 minutes. (Soup without toast and cheese can be cooled and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days, or frozen up to 6 months.)