Caramelized Onion And Shiitake Soup With Gruyere Blue Cheese Toasts Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION AND SHIITAKE SOUP WITH GRUYERE-BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• SOUP: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 15 minutes or until almost tender, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and cook 40 minutes or until onions are a deep golden brown. Stir occasionally.
• Increase heat to medium, add mushrooms, and cook 10 minutes or until they are tender. Stir frequently. Stir in garlic and thyme sprigs and cook for 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add wine to pan. Cook 2 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add both cans of broth to pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in salt & pepper and discard thyme sprigs.
• TOASTS: Preheat broiler. Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Top each piece with 1 tsp Gruyère and 1 tsp Gorgonzola. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese has melted. Sprinkle a little chopped thyme over each piece of toast.
• TO SERVE: Ladle about 1 cup of soup into each of 6 bowls and top each serving with 2 pieces of toast.

CARAMELIZED ONION SOUP WITH BLUE CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• In pot, melt butter over medium heat; add onions, thyme and 1/4 teaspoons each salt and pepper and sauté for 2 minutes or until starting to soften. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring often, for about 20 minutes or until onions are very soft. Uncover and cook, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes or until caramelized. Increase heat to medium-high; add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add sherry and bring to a boil, scraping up bits stuck to pot. Add beef stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for about 10 minutes or until flavours are blended.
• CROUTONS:.
• Preheat broiler. On a baking sheet, lightly toast both sides of baguette slices. Spread one side with softened blue cheese.
• To serve, stir cream into hot soup and season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into ovenproof soup bowls . Float one crouton in each bowl and broil for about 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.