French · soup

French Onion Soup (Soupe à l'oignon)

Name: French Onion Soup (Soupe à l'oignon)
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 3 lbs yellow onions, thinly sliced; 4 tbsp unsalted butter; 1 cup dry white wine; 6 cups beef broth; 4 sprigs fresh thyme; 1 bay leaf; 8 baguette slices, toasted; 2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated; salt to taste; 1/2 tsp black pepper

French Onion Soup (Soupe à l'oignon) reads umami 9.2, richness 6.1 and nutty 4.3 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a French soup, about 1 hr 50 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 9.9 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 3.6 / 10
Sour & Bright — 3.6 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.5 / 10
Rich & Fat — 7.4 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 2.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 9.2 · Richness 6.1 · Nutty 4.3 · Salinity 4.2 · Fruity 2.8 · Sourness 2.8 · Citrus 2.8 · Funk & Ferment 2.7 · Sweetness 2.6 · Herbaceous 1.8 · Floral 1.7 · Allium 1.5 · Warm Spice 1.4 · Bitterness 1.3 · Earthy 1.2 · Heat 0.8

What's in it (10)

3 lbs yellow onions, thinly sliced
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup dry white wine
6 cups beef broth
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
8 baguette slices, toasted
2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
salt to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper

Time & effort: about 1 hr 50 min (30 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 176.6 kcal, 10.8 g protein, 8.6 g fat, 15.3 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Slowly caramelize thinly sliced onions in butter over low heat for 45-60 minutes until deeply golden and sweet.
Deglaze with wine, add broth and herbs, and simmer 20 minutes.
Ladle into oven-safe crocks, float toasted baguette slices on top, mound with Gruyère, and broil until bubbling and golden.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Diots au Vin Blanc — French · Savoy
Ragù Bolognese (Tagliatelle al Ragù) — Italian
Mostaccioli — Italian
Braciole in Sunday Gravy — Italian-American
Wild Mushroom and Leek Galette — French

Keep reading: what umami, richness, nutty mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.