MC's French Onion Soup

Obviously, that is not me in the picture (link to the burnt cooking pic here). Most of the time, I am lazy when it comes to making food for myself. However, when I invite friends and family over, I am very well inclined to start creating a nice looking and usually delicious meal for the gathering, because you know, "nothing brings people together like good food" (see my related post here). And I have still to burn a dish or bake to avail to the picture's pose. Which is not really my aim lol.

Without further ado, let me share with you my yummilicious and easy to make French onion soup recipe. Another confession, right away, I use an Instant Pot pressure cooker and I don't really do much, so this whole recipe can be prepared and served in less than 40 minutes! Yup. Even with a very slow cook like me, it would take you literally no time before you delight your taste buds.

Ingredients (4 servings)

30 grams of butter - I use Lurpak

1 table spoon cold pressed virgin coconut oil

4-5 large onions - I prefer to mix red and white onions but you can simply go for white ones

2 cups vegetable broth - I use Knorr cubes

1 cup red or rosé wine

Dry thyme or dry oregano, to taste

Garlic powder

Ginger powder

Pepper, to taste

Croutons - I use Fresh Gourmet, they have different flavors but you can make your own

Grated cheese - I mostly mix Emmental, Mozzarella and Cheddar but you can stick to one type of cheese like I did this time

Preparation

1. Start by julienning the onions, i.e. for the beginner cooks, cut off the top and the bottom of each onion, remove the outer skin, cut the onion in two from top to bottom and place the inner side on your chopping board to slice it with your knife facing the round edges.

2. Put the Instant Pot on "Sauté" and let the butter and coconut oil melt and mix.

3. Add the onions. Here you can add some brown sugar if you want. I don't. If I am craving a bit of sweetness or the wine I will use is not fruity and rather dry, I add 1/2 a coffee spoon of Monk Fruit powder. To note that the recipe will be delicious even without any sugar at all.

4. Add the ginger powder and keep stirring the onions until they have become translucent. You will notice they will shrink in size. This should take about 10 to 15 minutes

5. Add the broth, wine, thyme, garlic powder, some salt if you want I don't use salt in most of my cooking, and the pepper. Stir well and secure the Instant Pot lid. Press on the "Soup" button. This should last for about 15 to 20 minutes. If you use the Manual cooking program, you can select 10 or 15 minutes. Meanwhile, warm up your oven and prepare your bowls.

6. Quick release the lid of the Instant Pot. It might take a couple of minutes. 

7. Fill the bowls up to 2/3. Layer the croutons on top of the soup. These will serve as the solid base for the cheese. Add the cheese of cheeses on top. You can also sprinkle some paprika on top of the cheesy layer for some coloring. Place the bowls in the oven until the cheese crust is lightly brownish. This should take a couple of minutes.. and voilà! Now you can slurp away!