Low Sodium French Onion Soup

What Onions To Use For French Onion Soup

I prefer using yellow onions because it makes for a very oniony taste. But you could also use Vidalias which are large and sweet or, you could even mix the two of them. By mixing them it will produce a bit milder and touch sweeter soup.

Onions need to be cooked slowly to a soft golden color without browning. Though I like to turn the heat up the last few minutes, so a few are browned. I personally think it adds a bit more taste without burning them to a crisp.

Onions will lose a lot of their volume as the moisture cooks out of them so dont be fooled by thinking you may have sliced too many onions. I also think many recipes way understate the cooking time of the onions. Even when I made this in the past it seemed to take double the time the recipe called for. This recipe reflects the time it took mine to cook down.

Use a large cast iron skillet to cook down the onions more quickly. The larger surface are lets them steam off more easily. Transfer onions to a soup pot when done.

Dont worry though it is very easy to do and only requires an occasional turning of the onions.

No Cheese In This Soup

I do enjoy the classic recipe, but I actually dislike the thick slab of melted cheese that often lays on top of it. So I make mine without it.

When my husband and I were dating, years ago, he had this old, worn-out cookbook. In that first winter together, he made me onion soup out of that cookbook. It was the simplest recipe – he used a bouillon cube to make the broth! But I remember it as one of the best soups I have ever tasted.

My husband used to serve his soup with grated gruyere cheese on the side so that if you did like cheese in your soup, you could simply stir it in. So that’s an option too.

How To Make Healthy French Onion Soup Vegan Or Vegetarian

Healthy French onion soup can easily be made into a vegetarian-friendly recipe by substituting the chicken and beef broths with low sodium vegetable broth. To go a step further and make the recipe vegan, follow these substitutions:

• Replace the butter with vegan butter, which is made from ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, or aquafaba
• Beef and chicken broth can be replaced with vegetable broth
• Cheese can be replaced with vegan cheese or nutritional yeast

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French Onion Soup Vii

Beautiful French onion soup. Good for a cold evening or after a late night as a midnight snack. Alternatively, grill the bread and cheese first, and serve in soup or on the side. This keeps well in fact, it gets better with time. Enjoy and experiment!

Provided by Zabocka

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Saute onions until deep brown, about 20 minutes. Stir in broth and wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until heated through.
• Preheat oven on broiler setting. Ladle soup into heatproof serving bowls. Top each bowl with a slice of bread, and sprinkle with cheese. Place under a hot broiler until cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Nutrition Facts : Calories342.6 calories, Carbohydrate29.4 g, Cholesterol44.4 mg, Fat14.6 g, Fiber3.1 g, Protein13.7 g, SaturatedFat8.8 g, Sodium699.3 mg, Sugar10.4 g

Tasty French Onion Soup

When my husband asked me to make this soup for a dinner at church, I prepared a huge pot and counted on having some left for us. But he came home with an empty pan and many requests for the recipe!-Lise Thomson, Magrath, Alberta

Provided by Taste of Home

Yield 8 servings .

Number Of Ingredients 7

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute the onions, sugar and pepper in oil until onions are softened. Reduce heat to medium-low cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until onions are a deep golden brown. Add broth bring to a boil. Reduce heat cover and simmer for 30 minutes. , Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls. Top each with a slice of French bread sprinkle with cheese. Broil 4-6 in. from heat until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 330 calories, Fat13g fat , Cholesterol4mg cholesterol, Sodium1092mg sodium, Carbohydrate43g carbohydrate , Protein10g protein.

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The Ingredients Needed For This Recipe

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this rich onion soup. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

Unsalted butter: I love using creamy European butter, but any butter will be great.

Fresh onions: I don’t recommend using frozen onions in this recipe. Fresh is definitely the way to go.

All-purpose flour: I use a little of it to thicken the soup. So this is obviously NOT a gluten-free recipe.

Dry white wine: I like to use sauvignon blanc. This is not a mandatory ingredient – you can omit it. But it does enhance the soup’s flavor.

Beef broth: Homemade is great, but store-bought is fine too. It’s also fine to use chicken broth. The soup will still taste great, but its color will appear lighter.

Seasonings: I use just a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried thyme. If you use low-sodium broth, you might want to add a bit more salt, so taste and decide.

Low Sodium French Onion Dip

Use this Low Sodium French Onion Dip that is a welcome addition where a dipping condiment is needed. I grew up with this dip when my mom made this with the Lipton onion soup packets to go with a snack of chips or cut vegetables. I think I have achieved nearly the same taste or at the very least better than any pre-made store brand.

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My Tips For Making Low Sodium French Onion Soup

When caramelizing the onions low heat and slow is the way to go. You need to render most of the moisture from the onions without burning for the best taste. It takes a while, but it is minimal hands on time only requiring turning the onions a few times.

Use a large cast iron skillet to cook down the onions more quickly. The larger surface are lets them steam off more easily. Transfer onions to a soup pot when done.

Also, be sure to allow time to simmer fully it really adds great flavor to this low sodium soup recipe! It lets the savory spices and bay leaf do its work to impart great flavor which we need because of the low sodium.

If you want a bit thicker soup, you can add a cornstarch slurry. Start by mixing two tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water and add to the soup. Add more if necessary.

Any variety of wine works white, red or even cognac if you want to get fancy. I generally dont have wine in my house so I use a white cooking wine. It is really just an acidic base that helps meld all the flavors without imparting a vinegar taste.

When broiling the bread and cheese I prefer to do them separately from the soup. After broiling simply stick those in the top of the soup and youll never know the difference. It is so much easier than trying to handle full bowls of soup in and out of a hot oven.

What Kind Of Cheese To Use

This recipe is great also because it traditionally calls for either shredded Swiss or Gruyere cheese. Both of which are some of the lowest sodium cheeses I have been able to easily find. There is also a Swiss Gruyere shredded mix that I use quite often. See pic below.

Both types of cheese melt quite well in the soup or over top of a piece of low sodium bread. Though I have found broiling the cheese on the bread and then placing that in the freshly ladled soup is easiest. I hate trying to balance soup bowls in and out of a hot oven. The bread will soak up the soup in just a minute, just as if you did the whole thing in the oven.

The cheese used in this recipe is 55mg of sodium per ¼ cup. And using ¼ cup per serving of soup is just the perfect amount. I use the Trader Joes or Aldi brand Swiss + Gruyere and I have seen Kraft shredded Swiss at 55mg also. Be sure to check your labels.

You of course have the option of leaving the cheese out and the soup would only be about 90mg of sodium for a cup and a half. I do this also when I want to use the soup as more of an Au jus or just for dipping bread.

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How To Make French Onion Soup Healthy

The cheese and bubbly goodness may lead you to think that French onion soup isnt healthy. It can absolutely be good for you, and this is how to make sure:

• Use low sodium broth
• When buying your baguette, choose whole grain
• For a low carb recipe, steam large pieces of cauliflower to replace the bread
• Dont overdo the cheese enjoy it, but use just what you need to make it tasty
• Provolone has fewer calories than the Gruyere, but the quantities we are using are a reasonable amount

How To Make French Onion Soup From Scratch

The key to making French onion soup from scratch is cooking down the onions until they get browned, caramelized, and super soft. This is what gives the soup its deep and rich onion flavor. So whether you are making it in a slow cooker, stovetop, or Instant Pot – you always need to caramelize the onions. This is where the flavor comes from.

Once you have done that, the rest is easy. You just need broth, traditionally beef broth is used, some herbs like thyme, and then actual time. Cooking the soup for a long time is another key for French Onion soup, it develops the flavors.

Also Check: Canned Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup

How To Make Onion Soup

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

1. Start by patiently cooking the onions in butter until caramelized. This should take about 20 minutes.

2. Mix in the flour and brown it.

3. Next, add the wine and cook to reduce it.

4. Add the beef broth and the spices and simmer until the soup is thickened, about 20 minutes.

Low Sodium French Onion Soup

Low Sodium French Onion soup is at the top of the list for classic savory soups. It can be eaten by itself with a piece of crusty bread or full on with melted cheese topping. It also can be paired with a side salad or as an Au Jus to many pork and beef entrees. I love heating a coffee cup of the soup for a quick warming snack in the winter. Though this recipe is a great all year round soup and low sodium side dish.

It does take a fair amount of time to make but there is really very little hands on time involved. Most of the time is spent rendering the moisture out of the onions and then letting all the ingredients to meld together in a simmer.

This onion soup may taste different if youre just starting a low sodium diet as you will still be missing or craving the salt. But it is by no means bland and still retains a rich, savory taste not covered and hidden by salt. I can only imagine eating a canned version now would taste incredibly salty to me with all the sodium packed into one serving and for what really?

The regular sodium laden onion soups can easily have your whole days sodium content in just one cup. Many recipes are 1200+mg of sodium per cup. And the famous name brand canned soup is 1580mg of sodium per cup and no cheese!

If you include my Low Sodium Artisan Bread or any of my breads the additional sodium is hardly even worth counting.

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Spicy Sweet Potato Soup

This gorgeous soup is bursting with Fall flavors, making it perfect for your next holiday table.

Theres a lot of surprising spices in this dish. Cumin, ginger, and cayenne give it a kick, while zesty lime adds a tart bite.

The secret ingredient is a couple of spoonfuls of smooth peanut butter.

And its magic, giving this soup a creamy nutty density under the spicy notes.

This cold cucumber soup is refreshingly different and very versatile.

You can serve this one as a cooling appetizer, fresh side dish, or a light main meal.

Its a summery soup that takes the edge of hot days with fragrant flavors and fresh ingredients.

And its so easy to make! Just blend together cucumbers, yogurt, fresh dill, garlic, shallot, lime, and cumin.

Chill, then serve because no one wants to stand over the stove on summer days.

This sweet soup is a favorite in Norway where its served chilled for dessert.

Vibrantly red, its an eye-catching bowl of fruity goodness.

Fresh rhubarb is blended to a thick puree and stirred together with sugar and vanilla. Its a rosy pink dish thats tangy and tart.

Want something more decadent? Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

This thick soup is loaded with hearty root vegetables for a true winter warmer.

Creamy, nutty, and velvety smooth, its a cozy bowlful of vegan yumminess.

Roast the parsnips first to really deepen the flavor, and dont forget the secret ingredient apple!

French Onion Soup Recipe By Tasty

Here’s what you need: olive oil, butter, yellow onion, salt, sugar, flour, beef stock, white wine, ground sage, whole bay leaf, french bread, cognac, swiss cheese, pepper, parmesan cheese

Provided by Tasty

Steps:

Nutrition Facts : Calories1549 calories, Carbohydrate167 grams, Fat64 grams, Fiber8 grams, Protein45 grams, Sugar38 grams

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Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Buy the best beef broth you can, or better yet, make your own for a rich, full-flavored soup. And if you don’t have ovenproof bowls or ramekins for the soup, don’t worry-you can just top your soup with melty cheese toasts.

Provided by Rhoda Boone

Yield Serves 4 as a main

Number Of Ingredients 16

Steps:

Side Dishes To Serve With Crockpot French Onion Soup

If you ask me, no soup is complete without a side salad or sandwich. To that end, some things I’d serve with this soup include:

• This Grilled Eggplant Sandwich that also has a black olive spread on it that is to die for. This keeps with a vegetarian-themed meal if you prefer and is chock full of so many veggies and good things, you’ll wonder why you haven’t paired these two dishes together before.

A simple side salad works well here too, get a nice spring mix and add in shredded carrots, thinly sliced bell peppers, some cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, sliced in half longways. Add feta or goat cheese crumbles or some slivered almonds and your favorite light dressing.

• Use leftover chicken in a pita and stuffed with your favorite toppings and condiments as a nice complement to the French Onion Soup. Serve it hot or cold.
• This Israeli Chopped Salad is a family favorite and can be made a day or two in advance and brought back out and served with just about anything you can think of including piping hot soup!
• Chickpea, Avocado, and Feta Salad is another one that’s easy to put on repeat and eat, eat, eat.
• If you want the soup to be your main focus, you can also serve a mini charcuterie board on the side with some more thinly sliced bread and an assortment of cheeses, fruit, and pickled veggies.

This post was originally shared in 2012 but has been updated with new photos, tips, and ideas.

Also Check: How To Make Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

What Goes With French Onion Soup

French onion soup is great by itself, but you could serve it with a salad to round out your meal. Try the soup with my berry salad with goat cheese or arugula salad with fig and prosciutto. You could also serve the soup as a starter for any meal. It would be perfect paired with roast beef and roasted brussels sprouts.