Creamy Julia Child’s French Onion Soup Recipe

Name: Julia Child’s French Onion Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 Cups Yellow onion; 6 Cups Beef Stock; 1 Cup Dry White Wine; 12 Ounces Swiss Cheese; 8 Slices of French Bread; 4 Ounces Parmesan Cheese; 1 Tablespoon Oil; ½ Cup Butter; 3 Tablespoons Flour; ½ Raw Yellow Onion; Salt; Pepper; Bay leaf; Sugar; ½ Tablespoon Ground Sage

Recipe Pin

Julia Child was one of the legends who changed people’s perspective about cooking all over the world. She taught us so many things about home cooking. She taught us how we can make those impressive French dishes right in our home kitchens. This classic onion soup is one of her most famous creations.

Julia-Child’s French Onion Feature Image

Just imagine you are walking through a small, cosy French cafe on a winter evening. The air feels warm, coming from the cafe’s kitchen, and there you are, looking for the perfect meal to order. This French onion soup always feels like a special, deeply satisfying treat we give ourselves.

Making this wonderful recipe is a slow and steady process that requires a little bit of patience in the beginning. The most crucial step is to gently cook the sliced onions until they are deeply brown and sweetly caramelised. This long, gentle cooking is exactly what gives the soup its incredible and unforgettable flavours.

The final reward for all the time and effort is something that is truly beautiful to eat. The rich beef broth tastes so delicious when paired with a toasted, savoury piece of French bread, topped with a thick layer of melted, bubbly cheese that forms a perfect golden, gooey topping.

What's In The Post

Equipment Required

Stock Pot: You need a stockpot to cook the onions, and it is also required for baking the soup in the oven.
Spatula: Essential for stirring the onions.
Cutting Board and Sharp Knife: For slicing the onions very thinly, a cutting board and a sharp knife are required..
Baking Sheets: Baking sheets are necessary for toasting the French bread slices.
Measurement Cups and Spoons: To measure all the liquid and dry ingredients correctly, measurement cups and spoons are required.
Grater: It is used for grating cheese quickly and evenly.
Ladle: For serving the hot soup in a bowl, a ladle is necessary.

Julia Child’s French Onion Soup With Cheese

Julia Child’s French Onion Soup Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 2 people. You can increase or decrease the quantities for more or fewer servings.

6 Cups Yellow Onion: Sweet onions like Vidalia can also be used if you are not able to find yellow onions.
6 Cups Beef Stock: You can also use chicken stock or vegetable broth to make a bit lighter version of this soup.
1 Cup Dry White Wine: Dry Sherry or dry vermouth can be used instead.
12 Ounces Swiss Cheese: Gruyere is a traditional French cheese, which makes it the best alternative to Swiss cheese.
8 Slices of French Bread: You can even use slices of sourdough bread, as it also goes so well as the topping.
4 Ounces Parmesan Cheese: If you are looking for any alternative, then you should go with the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, as this helps you to add a sharper and even saltier kick to it.
1 Tablespoon Oil: Using olive oil would be a healthy alternative option for this.
½ Cup Butter: As a healthy alternative, you can also use olive oil for this.
3 Tablespoons Flour: You can also use Gluten-free flour blend or even cornstarch to thicken the soup.
½ Raw Yellow Onion
Salt
Pepper
Bay Leaf: If you don’t have bay leaves, dried Greek oregano or even dried thyme can be used instead.
Sugar
½ Tablespoon Ground Sage: You can even use marjoram, thyme, or rosemary as a substitute for this.

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Total Time
25 Minutes	1 Hour 45 minutes	2 Hours 10 minutes

How To Make Julia Child’s French Onion Soup At Home

Step 1

Take a pan and add oil and butter to it.

Step 2

Further, add sliced onions to the pan.

Step 3

Season it with salt and sugar.

Step 4

Then, put the flour into those browned onions and cook them for a few more minutes so that they create a paste.

Step 5

Now, add a cup of beef stock while stirring it rapidly so as to scrape the browned bits that are stuck to the bottom.

Step 6

Further, add bay leaf and sage into it.

Step 7

Now wait for the soup to boil, then reduce the heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of cognac, and gently cook for 15 more minutes.

Step 8

Once the soup is ready, add a splash of white wine and stir evenly.

Step 9

Now, lay the bread slices on top of the soup to cover the surface, and place the remaining slices of Swiss cheese.

Step 10

Finally, place the bowl of soup in the oven and gratinate for 2 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt evenly.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Caramelise the onions slowly on low heat because this will add extra flavours to the soup.
When you add the first cup of beef stock, make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot; this will lift all the browned, stuck bits, which further adds an intense and savory flavor to it.
Make sure the French bread slices are dry and crispy before they go into the soup. If the bread is too soft, it quickly becomes soggy and falls apart in the broth during baking.
You can use Gruyere cheese as it is firmer and nuttier, also it melts beautifully, and it even has more complex flavors than regular cheese.

FAQ’s About Julia Child’s French Onion Soup

Why is it important to toast the French bread slices before they go into the soup?

Toasting makes the bread sturdy, which helps it to resist absorbing too much liquid. If the bread is soft, then it will turn into mush in the hot broth, which will ruin the texture of the finished soup.

What type of onion is best for French onion soup?

You can use yellow or white onions for this French Onion Soup. Cut them into thin slices and cook them properly until they get caramelised.

How long should the onions be caramelised?

Caramelising the onions properly usually takes 15-20 minutes. Rushing this step can result in bitter or unevenly cooked onions.

Should the soup be simmered or boiled?

The soup should be gently simmered, not boiled, to allow the flavours to blend without becoming harsh.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Julia Child’s French Onion Soup is high in calories, and it contains healthy fats from the cheese and butter, as well as carbohydrates, primarily from the crusty bread and the rich beef broth. It is best enjoyed as an occasional treat or as a main course, rather than just a light appetiser.

Calories	478 kcal
Fat	24 g
Cholesterol	161 mg
Sodium	815 mg
Potassium	1176 mg
Carbohydrates	161 g
Saturated Fat	35 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	3 g
Monounsaturated Fat	17 g
Trans Fat	1 g
Potassium	1176 g
Fiber	5 g
Sugar	13 g
Iron	2 mg
Vitamin C	18 mg
Vitamin A	1643IU
Calcium	1191 mg
Protein	44 g

It is a very versatile soup that pairs easily with most meals, and with a few minor changes, you can make it suitable for various dietary preferences.

Julia Child’s French Onion Soup Ready To Serve

Recipe Variations For Different Types

Vegan Diet: For a vegan diet preference, we need to replace beef stock with vegetable broth. We can even use vegan butter sticks or olive oil instead of butter.
Gluten-Free Diet: You can use gluten-free sandwich bread instead of regular French bread. We can replace all-purpose flour with an equal amount of gluten-free all-purpose flour, or we can also use cornstarch.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

In The Refrigerator: Let the soup cool completely without adding bread/ cheese to it. Then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
In The Freezer: This soup freezes very well. Pour it into a ziplock or into an air-tight container, leaving about an inch of space at the top. You can keep the frozen soup for up to 3 months.

Reheating

Cooktop: Pour the chilled soup base into a pot. Heat it gently over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the soup is simmering and fully warmed.
Microwave: Place this soup in a Microwave-safe bowl and heat it in 1-2-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until the soup is steaming hot.

What to Serve With This Recipe

Are you looking for something that is delicious to enjoy with this French Onion Soup? Then let me tell you that you have plenty of options to try.

I would love to enjoy this soup with Garlic Bread on the side, a refreshing Pea and Peanut Salad, or a Grilled Chicken Sandwich. If you are in the mood for something more filling, you can have this soup alongside a Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

Printable Version

More Julia Child’s Recipes That You Can Try

Healthy Julia Child Potato Salad — Julia Child’s Potato Salad

Julia-Child-Hollandaise-Sauce-Recipe — Julia Child’s Potato Salad

Conclusion

This Entire process is guided by legendary Julia Child, which is about transforming humble ingredients into something truly extraordinary. It’s a reminder that the best flavours often require patience and dedication, especially when caramelising those onions to a perfect, deep brown. This slow, deliberate cooking is the soul of this classic French soup.

When that soup pot finally emerges from the oven, which is topped with a bubbling golden crust of cheese and those toasted breads, the reward is immediate. This rich and savory comfort food brings a little bit of French bistro elegance right to your kitchen table. It is the perfect centrepiece for a cozy cum satisfying meal.

Whether you served it as a main dish or as a starter, this French onion soup is a testament to the fact that classic French cuisine is always worth the effort and sure to earn high praise from everyone at your table. Bon Appétit!

Creamy Julia Child’s French Onion Soup Recipe

Equipment Required

Julia Child’s French Onion Soup Ingredients & Substitutions

Preparation And Cooking Time