Description
Savory french onion soup rice blends classic French comfort with hearty rice, creating a soul-warming dish that marries caramelized onions and rich broth. Cheese-topped goodness delivers a comforting experience you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups rice
- 4 large onions
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cups beef broth
Seasonings:
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Garnish:
- 1 cup gruyère cheese
- 2 green onions
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice onions into delicate, translucent rings, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent caramelization.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat, creating a golden cooking surface for slow-cooking onions.
- Gently transfer sliced onions into the skillet, spreading them evenly to maximize surface contact and promote even browning.
- Carefully caramelize onions for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they transform into a rich, deep amber color with soft, silky texture.
- Mince garlic and add to the caramelized onions, sautéing briefly to release aromatic flavors without burning.
- Sprinkle dried thyme, salt, and black pepper into the onion mixture, stirring to distribute seasonings uniformly.
- Pour beef broth into the skillet, allowing the liquid to integrate with the caramelized onion base and create a robust flavor profile.
- Add rice to the broth-onion mixture, stirring gently to ensure each grain is coated with the savory liquid.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 18-20 minutes, or until rice absorbs all liquid and becomes tender with a slight bite.
- While rice cooks, grate gruyère cheese and finely chop green onions and parsley for garnishing.
- Once rice is cooked, remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and texture to settle.
- Sprinkle grated gruyère over the hot rice, allowing cheese to slightly melt from residual heat.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and fresh parsley, adding a burst of color and fresh herbaceous notes.
Notes
- Slice onions consistently to ensure even caramelization, preventing burnt or undercooked patches in the dish.
- Use low and slow heat when caramelizing onions to develop deep, complex flavor without scorching, which can turn bitter and ruin the entire recipe.
- Choose a heavy-bottomed skillet to distribute heat evenly and prevent hot spots that might burn the delicate onion rings during the long cooking process.
- Experiment with different broths like vegetable or mushroom for vegetarian variations, maintaining the rich umami character of the original recipe.
- Select short-grain rice like arborio or sushi rice for creamier texture, mimicking the luxurious mouthfeel of traditional French onion soup.
- Toast rice briefly before adding liquid to enhance nutty undertones and prevent grains from becoming mushy during cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 25mg