Toss the butter, oil, onions and water into a large soup pot with a few pinches of salt.
Cover with a tight fitting lid and let the onions soften over a medium high heat, about 10 minutes.
When the water has evaporated, remove the lid, turn heat to low and begin to slowly caramelize onions, stirring frequently. This will take about one hour.
The Soup
When the onions are a deep golden colour and have shrunk dramatically, add the brandy, thyme and broth.
Season with salt and pepper and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Preheat your oven's broiler. Ladle the soup into 4 onion soup or ovenproof bowls and fit a slice of toast over each bowl.
Sprinkle each evenly with the cheese and place bowls onto a baking sheet.
Place under the broiler and broil until the soup is bubbling and the tops are golden brown.
Three quick things; One, this Recipe is awesome! Never took the time to go online and look for the actual recipe before now. In the past I would just re-watch the Chef at Home episode where he made this and study the heck out of it to reproduce it and so far, that has led to six successful and delicious meals. Two, authentic is relative. This is from his Chef at Home series and if you know anything about that series you know it's based not on a fixed recipe format but more of Michael's self described free-styling cooking that he does 'at home'. Works for me. Also, living in Germany I've had many an opportunity to visit France and sample the cuisine and in the more 'rural' parts of France where water quality could be a question, a wide variety of 'stocks' is usually at the ready for any and all occasions, including the Onion soup. On this particular episode Michael removes the breasts of a whole chicken for roasting later and then uses the remaining carcass, along with a mirepoix, bay leaf and salt and pepper, then just covered with water (See, he used just water!) to create his 'stock'. Three, in the Onion Soup episode he does not have any Gruyere cheese but uses a Swiss instead. To me personally, and my family, the gruyere makes all the difference in the world. So if you can get it, definite use it. And finally, four; Sarina, on the show it looks like he is adding about 1/4 cup of water to help the onions begin sweating. The carmalization is the most important part and where most of the flavors are coming from. And don't discount what the Brandy brings to the overall taste party either! I skipped it ounce and was surprised at what flavors were missing. Enjoy, and now I have to start my onions to sweating and the stock to boil!
Michael doesn't say how much water you put in. It may be obvious to some but not to me and i failed to caramelise the onions so it is clearly doomed to failure?
I orginial saw Michael make this soup last year and I used it as an entree at one of my dinner parties and it was an aboustle hit. I will be making it again this week for another dinner party.
PS A majority of recipes evolved from an orginial idea, it's called being creative and there is nothing wrong with that! This is a great soup and a conversation piece on the table!
Who cares what "authentic" French onion soup has. This is Michael's take on it and it sounds absolutley delicious. Haven't you ever "tweaked" a recipe and given it the same? Get off your high horse and cook and enjoy this soup!!!!!!
Three quick things; One, this Recipe is awesome! Never took the time to go online and look for the actual recipe before now. In the past I would just re-watch the Chef at Home episode where he made this and study the heck out of it to reproduce it and so far, that has led to six successful and delicious meals. Two, authentic is relative. This is from his Chef at Home series and if you know anything about that series you know it's based not on a fixed recipe format but more of Michael's self described free-styling cooking that he does 'at home'. Works for me. Also, living in Germany I've had many an opportunity to visit France and sample the cuisine and in the more 'rural' parts of France where water quality could be a question, a wide variety of 'stocks' is usually at the ready for any and all occasions, including the Onion soup. On this particular episode Michael removes the breasts of a whole chicken for roasting later and then uses the remaining carcass, along with a mirepoix, bay leaf and salt and pepper, then just covered with water (See, he used just water!) to create his 'stock'. Three, in the Onion Soup episode he does not have any Gruyere cheese but uses a Swiss instead. To me personally, and my family, the gruyere makes all the difference in the world. So if you can get it, definite use it. And finally, four; Sarina, on the show it looks like he is adding about 1/4 cup of water to help the onions begin sweating. The carmalization is the most important part and where most of the flavors are coming from. And don't discount what the Brandy brings to the overall taste party either! I skipped it ounce and was surprised at what flavors were missing. Enjoy, and now I have to start my onions to sweating and the stock to boil!
Michael doesn't say how much water you put in. It may be obvious to some but not to me and i failed to caramelise the onions so it is clearly doomed to failure?
I orginial saw Michael make this soup last year and I used it as an entree at one of my dinner parties and it was an aboustle hit. I will be making it again this week for another dinner party. PS A majority of recipes evolved from an orginial idea, it's called being creative and there is nothing wrong with that! This is a great soup and a conversation piece on the table!
Who cares what "authentic" French onion soup has. This is Michael's take on it and it sounds absolutley delicious. Haven't you ever "tweaked" a recipe and given it the same? Get off your high horse and cook and enjoy this soup!!!!!!
Authentic French onion soup does not use stock ever...only water!!!!