Culinary Corner: Oceania’s French Onion Soup

Continuing our theme of winter warmers is a classic dish that’ll whisk you away to pavement cafes along the Seine on a cold November night in Paris, with a recipe courtesy of Oceania’s Master Chef & Executive Culinary Director Jacques Pépin.

INGREDIENTS

• 250ml beef stock
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1KG thinly sliced onion
• 1½ tablespoons finely chopped garlic
• 3 thyme sprigs
• 3 marjoram sprigs
• 12 to 16 slices baguette, each ¼ inch thick
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 150ml dry white wine (such as chardonnay)
• 150ml dry red wine (such as merlot)
• 3 tablespoons brandy
• 800ml chicken stock
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 230g shredded Gruyère cheese

DIRECTIONS

• Pour the beef stock into a large saucepan and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a gentle boil and cook until the stock reduces by half, about 30 minutes. Set aside.

• In a stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent and a light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low and cook until the onion is a rich brown, 45 minutes to 1 hour, lowering the heat as necessary to prevent scorching. Stir occasionally.

• Meanwhile, place the thyme and marjoram sprigs on a small piece of cheesecloth and tie into a sachet with kitchen twine. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 175°c.

• Lightly brush the baguette slices on both sides with olive oil. Place in the oven and heat, turning once, until dry, about 5 minutes on each side. Do not allow the bread to colour. Set aside.

• Add the white wine, red wine and brandy to the browned onion and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the alcohol evaporates and the onion is glazed, about 5 minutes. Add the sachet, the reduced beef stock and the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Keep at a low simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper.

• Place four flameproof serving bowls on a small tray. Ladle the soup into the bowls. Top with the bread slices and then top the bread slices with enough cheese to cover the bread completely and extend to the rims of the bowls, about ½ cup for each bowl. Place under the grill until the cheese is bubbling and toasted.