Brasserie Balzars Midnight Onion Soup Recipes

THE BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a very large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onions, bay leaves, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft and light golden-brown, about 1 hour. (The onions will begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and turn brown after about 30 minutes; just keep scraping them up and stirring them into the rest of the onions. If they are browning to quickly, lower the heat.)
• Add the wine to the pot, bring to a simmer and cook until it has almost completely evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add the beef broth and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors come together and the soup is rich, about 45 minutes. Remove the bay leaves. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Keep the soup warm on a low burner or cool completely and refrigerate to reheat later. (The soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)
• Preheat the broiler. Place four soup crocks on a rimmed baking sheet and fill them about 3/4 of the way with hot soup. Float a slice of baguette on top of each and cover with 1/2 cup Gruyere. Broil until the Gruyere is golden brown (don't be alarmed if some soup bubbles out), 2 to 3 minutes.

CREAMY ONION SOUP FROM BRASSERIE LE COZE

Steps:

• In a large stockpot over low heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden brown, about 1 hour. Add the white wine and reduce by half. Add the cream and reduce by half.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, add sugar and moisten with water and lemon juice. Cook until the sugar melts and becomes a light caramel color. Remove from the heat immediately. Do not allow it to overcook, or it will become bitter. Cool briefly and add the vinegar to the caramel and whisk to combine (if mixture hardens, set it over low heat to liquefy again). Set aside.
• In a separate saucepan over low heat, melt the remaining butter and add the flour. Whisk for 1 to 2 minutes or until flour is absorbed but mixture is still blond-colored. Set aside.
• In a separate saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Add the flour roux to the stock and cook to combine. Puree with an immersion blender or in a food processor to smooth it to a gravy-like consistency. Add this mixture (called a veloute) to the onions after the cream is reduced. Add the sugar-vinegar mixture (called a gastrique), stirring to incorporate.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve. The restaurant serves the soup with grated Gruyere cheese, croutons and green onions, but it is filling enough to serve alone.
• Note: To properly caramelize the onions, allow yourself about one hour. Don't rush it by using too high heat or you could burn the onions.

BRASSERIE'S LE COZE'S FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stockpot over low heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden brown, about 1 hour. Add the white wine and reduce by half. Add the cream and reduce by half.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, add sugar and moisten with water and lemon juice. Cook until the sugar melts and becomes a light caramel color. Remove from the heat immediately. Do not allow it to overcook, or it will become bitter. Cool briefly and add the vinegar to the caramel and whisk to combine (if mixture hardens, set it over low heat to liquefy again). Set aside.
• In a separate saucepan over low heat, melt the remaining butter and add the flour. Whisk for 1 to 2 minutes or until flour is absorbed but mixture is still blond-colored. Set aside.
• In a separate saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Add the flour roux to the stock and cook to combine. Puree with an immersion blender or in a food processor to smooth it to a gravy-like consistency. Add this mixture (called a veloute) to the onions after the cream is reduced. Add the sugar-vinegar mixture (called a gastrique), stirring to incorporate.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve. The restaurant serves the soup with grated Gruyere cheese, croutons and green onions, but it is filling enough to serve alone.
• Note: To properly caramelize the onions, allow yourself about one hour. Don't rush it by using too high heat or you could burn the onions. I use a heavy enamel pot for this step.