Vidalia Onion Soup With Wild Rice And Maytag Blue Cheese Croutons Recipes

VIDALIA ONION SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter with the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 40 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the brandy and sherry and boil until almost completely evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the stock and thyme, bring to a simmer, and cook until the soup is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and discard the thyme.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Divide eight 16-ounce ovenproof crocks between 2 baking sheets. Put a slice of bread in the bottom of each crock. Fill each crock until three-quarters full. Place another slice of baguette over each soup and divide the cheese on top. Carefully slide the crocks under the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the broiler and top each with a dollop of parsley pesto.
• Combine the parsley, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly add the oil through the feed tube and process until combined.
• Add the cheese, season with salt and pepper, and pulse a few times just to incorporate. Scrape into a bowl. The pesto will keep for up to 2 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

CREAMY VIDALIA ONION SOUP

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Add onions: saute until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in flour and salt, and mix thoroughly. Gradually add chicken broth, stirring constantly. Cover, and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
• When onions are very tender, stir in milk and cream. Heat through. Remove 1/2 cup soup, and mix in egg yolks. Slowly stir egg yolk mixture into soup in pan. Heat through, but do not allow soup to boil. Stir in paprika, black pepper, and red hot pepper sauce. Serve hot, and garnish with chopped parsley.

VIDALIA ONION SOUP WITH WILD RICE AND MAYTAG BLUE CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the rice with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a wide, deep pot over medium heat. Melt the butter and add the onions, tossing them until wilted and well coated. Cook the onions, turning them with a spatula every 5 to 10 minutes, until soft and browned but not burned; this may take 30 to 40 minutes.
• Add the stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Wrap the herbs in a small piece of cheesecloth and tie with kitchen string. Drop the bundle into the broth for 1 minute, then remove it. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with oil. Bake on a baking sheet until light golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. While the croutons are still warm, spread them with blue cheese.
• To serve, divide the rice among four bowls, and ladle broth and onions on top. Float 2 croutons in the center of each bowl, and sprinkle with more pepper.