Old San Francisco Steakhouses French Onion Soup Recipes

CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter together with the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the white and red onions, leeks, garlic, bay leaves, thyme and salt and pepper to taste, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until all the onions are caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• Add the sherry and cook until reduced by half, 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Add the beef stock, bring to a simmer and cook 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as desired.
• Preheat the broiler. Add the baguette toasts to each soup bowl and ladle soup over the top (they will rise to the top). Top each toast with the cheese and broil until the cheese browns, about 30 seconds.

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.

THE ULTIMATE RIBEYE FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Sprinkle steak with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat butter and oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add steak; sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove steak; drain all but 1 tablespoon drippings. Stir in onions and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender, about 15 minutes. Add wine and bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits. Boil until wine is reduced by half, about 15 minutes.
• Cut steak from the bones and chop into 1-inch pieces; transfer to the pot. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until beef is very tender, about 3 hours. Add water as needed to keep onions and beef covered.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Arrange bread on a small baking sheet.
• Bake bread in the preheated oven until toasted, about 6 minutes.
• Stir mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese together in a small bowl.
• Remove and discard bones and thyme sprigs from the pot. Skim off any excess fat. Stir in remaining salt and pepper.
• Set an oven rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Divide soup among 4 oven-proof bowls or mugs; arrange on a large foil-lined baking sheet. Top each bowl with toast and cheeses.
• Broil soups until cheese is browned and bubbly, 1 to 2 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning.

CLASSIC FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until softened, 10-13 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Add minced garlic; cook 2 minutes longer., Stir in wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add broth, pepper and salt; return to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Place baguette slices on a baking sheet; brush both sides with remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Bake until toasted, 3-5 minutes on each side. Rub toasts with halved garlic. , To serve, place twelve 8-oz. broiler-safe bowls or ramekins on baking sheets; place 2 toasts in each. Ladle with soup; top with cheese. Broil 4 in. from heat until cheese is melted.

OLD SAN FRANCISCO STEAKHOUSE'S FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large heavy pot over moderate heat and add the onions, separating the rings with a fork. Cover and sauté onions, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook, stirring often, until the onions are very soft and a deep golden brown, about 20 minutes more. Add beef stock, chicken stock, sherry, brown sugar, pepper, thyme, parsley, paprika and scallions. Simmer for 10 minutes, or longer, if desired. To serve, pour soup into warmed bowls, and top with croutons and Swiss cheese.
• To clarify butter: Melt butter in a heavy pan over low heat. Skim off froth and carefully pour clear liquid into another container, being careful to leave the milky residue behind.
• Recipe can be halved or doubled.
• At the restaurant we served these in onion bowls -- or very large yellow onions with the root cut off and the insides mostly scraped out(this can be used in the soup) with an ice cream scoop. After toping them with croutons and cheese they were placed under the broiler until bubbling.

OLD SAN FRANCISCO DRESSING

Steps:

• Mix salt, paprika and sugar in a quart jar. Add ketchup, mix well.
• Add oil, vinegar and lemon juice.
• Shake well.
• Add onion and shake again.