Onion Soup from Darcy in the Kitchen

Darcy's Onion Soup

My husband did the shopping the day we made Darcy’s Manitoba Cheesesteak Sandwiches. If you know him, you’ll know that once in a while, he tends to overdo things and so it was we ended up with a lot of leftover deli roast beef, submarine buns and provolone cheese. Making some regular roast beef sandwiches would have been easy enough, but Darcy had an idea to serve the sandwiches with homemade onion soup. She made great use of the extra submarine buns turning them into giant croutons and used the leftover provolone.

It’s been a long time since onion soup has been made in my kitchen (and a long time since those onion soup bowls came off the top shelf). The aroma as the onions cooked was fantastic and Darcy’s combination of ingredients was right on the money. So good! Oh yes, and here’s a tip from Darcy to remember as you get ready to enjoy your first spoonful: The bowl and the soup are very HOT, and the cheese is rubbery so use the edge of your bowl to cut the cheese strings. 

Darcy’s Onion Soup

Preheat oven to 375º F.

The main ingredient

5 or 6 medium onions, halved and sliced thin

¼ cup butter

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

splash of water

1 tsp thyme

½ cup port

8 cups beef broth

4 submarine buns or 4 slices bread

½ lb provolone cheese, sliced thin

Making the croutons from submarine buns

In a large soup pot over low heat, melt butter. Add olive oil to melted butter. Add onions and a splash of water. Cover and let cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove cover from pot continue cooking for about 45 minutes. Stir with love at regular intervals to prevent onions from sticking.

Add thyme, port and beef broth to onion mixture. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer the soup for about 20 minutes.

Float the crouton on top of the soup

While the soup simmers, use a biscuit cutter to make large round croutons out of buns or breads. The rounds should be able to fit into the soup bowl. (Darcy used the largest Pampered Chef biscuit cutter.) Place the rounds onto a baking sheet and toast them in the oven. This happens quickly so keep an eye on them.

To assemble: 

Place the soup bowls on a baking sheet. 

Fill each bowl with soup, float a toasted round on top of the soup, and place a slice of cheese on top of the round.

Top with provolone

Broil until browned and bubbly

Set oven to broil. Place the tray of soup bowls under the broiler and cook until the cheese is browned and bubbly.

The bowls and the soup will be very hot, so allow a little cooling time before digging in.


Printable Recipe for Darcy's Onion Soup