Description
Creamy french onion soup pasta blends classic French flavors into a comforting one-pot wonder. Rich caramelized onions and melted gruyère cheese create a luxurious dish perfect for chilly evenings when all you crave is warmth and indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Cheeses:
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (fusilli, rigatoni, or penne)
- 2 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth)
- ½ cup dry white wine (or beef broth)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- Optional: extra cheese for topping and broiling
Instructions
- Warm a capacious skillet over medium temperature, melding butter and olive oil together.
- Introduce sliced onions to the pan, complementing with sugar, salt, and pepper. Allow them to caramelize gradually, stirring periodically for 25-30 minutes until achieving a rich, mahogany hue.
- Incorporate minced garlic and sauté briefly for an additional minute, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Deglaze the pan with white wine, meticulously scraping accumulated flavor-laden fond from the skillet’s surface. Permit the liquid to reduce and concentrate for 2-3 minutes.
- Simultaneously, prepare pasta in a separate pot of generously salted water until perfectly tender. Extract and reserve a portion of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Infuse the caramelized onion base with robust beef broth and fragrant thyme. Allow the mixture to simmer, melding flavors for approximately 5 minutes.
- Gently incorporate heavy cream, then fold in luxurious Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses, creating a velvety, indulgent sauce.
- Transfer cooked pasta directly into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the decadent onion-cheese mixture. Adjust sauce consistency by introducing reserved pasta water if needed.
- For an optional gratinéed finish, sprinkle additional cheese atop the dish and broil until golden and effervescent.
- Present immediately, garnishing with delicate thyme sprigs or freshly chopped parsley to elevate the sensory experience.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly and patiently to develop deep, rich flavor without burning.
- Keep heat low and stir frequently during onion cooking to ensure even golden-brown color and prevent scorching.
- Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency, creating silky smooth texture that clings perfectly to pasta.
- Consider gluten-free alternatives like using gluten-free pasta or replacing wheat pasta with zucchini noodles for dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg