French Onion SoupFrench Onion SoupOnions in stock before putting in jarsTo make French Onion Soup

In Santa Barbara we have an incredible french restaurant which is nothing to look at inside but the food was really delicious. The one thing that stood out at the meal we had was their French Onion Soup. The broth had a savory quality and the gruyere cheese and that wonderful toasted bread under that cheesy layer just made it the perfect soup. I have since then tried several versions whenever we go out to dinner to compare the final products but Mimosa has the best hands down.

Since this basic soup is beef broth, herbs, and onions I decided it would be a fantastic soup to put up in jars and then heat later with homemade croutons and gruyere cheese. I put this recipe up this weekend and it’s fantastic. It’s super simple but because the onions are bathing in the beef broth/stock in that jar it can only get better with time.

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup

Here is the recipe for the French Onion soup base and then how to make the soup when you are ready to serve.  
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 d 2 hrs
Total Time 1 d 2 hrs 10 mins
Course Soup
Cuisine French
Servings 15

Ingredients
  

  • 8 cups sliced 1/4" onions 
  • 1 T. olive oil - for sauting only
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 8 cups beef broth/stock
  • 1/2 t. thyme
  • 1/2 t. black pepper

Instructions
 

Preparation:

  • Fill yourpressure canner with 2 to 3 inches of water and place the rack at the bottom.Please follow the instructions that came with your canner for adding the amountof water. Begin heating the water in the bottom of the canner with the lid off.

Food Preparation:

  • In a largefrying pan sauté the onions in batches using the olive oil and adding justenough for them not to burn. Cook for about 15 minutes till they are cookeddown but not soft.
  • The pressure canner will do the work of cooking them therest of the way but not enough for them to be mushy. Put the onions in a bowland set aside.  Once all the onions aredone in a stainless steel pot or enameled dutch oven add broth/stock, water,wine, thyme and pepper.
  • Bring to a boilover medium heat, turn down to low and add the onions. Leave in pot for 3-5minutes while you get the jars ready to fill. Remove from heat  

Filling the jars:

  • You will need 6pint jars. Put your canning funnel on the jar and using tongs pull out the onionand add some to each jar. I would say about 1/2 cup each if you are going tomeasure otherwise you can eyeball that each jar gets “a loose” half  full in each pint. 
  • Now taking your ladle add broth/stock to eachof the pints filling them to 1” headspace. You will find that the herbs havesunk to the bottom of the pot. Using a spoon add some to each jar.
  • There is nosalt in this recipe since the broth/stock has plenty naturally. Remove airbubbles with your rubber spatula or chopsticks and refill if necessary.
  • Taking a clean damp papertowel, wipe the rims of the jars removing any foodparticles that would interfere with a good seal for your lids.
  • Using your magicwand extract the lids from the hot water and place them on the now cleanedrims. Add your rings to the tops of each of the jars and turn to seal just"finger tight".

Processing:

  • Make sureyour canning water has come to a simmer and place the jars in the pressurecanner.  Lock the lid and turn up the heat bring the canner to a boil.
  • Vent steam for 10 minutes and then close the vent by adding the weighted gaugeor pressure regulator (for dial gauge canner). Process pints for 60 minutes and quarts for 75 minutes at 10lbs of pressure (11 lbs for dial gauge canner).
  • Adjust pressure for altitude. When completeturn off the heat and let pressure return to zero naturally.
  • If you have a lidlock you will want to wait till the lock drops. Wait two minutes longer andremove the weighted gauge or pressure regulator. Remove canner lid.
  • Wait 10minutes then remove jars and place on dishtowel in a place that they will sitovernight to cool. Do not touch or move them till the next morning.

Sealing:

  • Some time inthe next hour your jars will be making a "pinging" or"popping" noise. That is the glass cooling and the reaction of thelids being sucked into the jar for proper sealing. Some recipes may takeovernight to seal. Check your lids and reprocess any jars that did not seal.Remove rings for storage.
Keyword Onion Soup

To make French Onion Soup

To make French Onion Soup
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Snack, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pc. baguette
  • 1/2 lbs grated gruyere cheese

Instructions
 

  • When you're ready to eat, preheat the broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle the slices with the Gruyere cheese and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Ladle the soup in bowls or crocks and float several of the Gruyere croutons on top. 
  • Alternative method: Ladle the soup into crocks, top each with 2 slices of toasted baguette and top with cheese. Put the bowls into the oven to melt the cheese.
Keyword Onion Soup