French Onion Soup XI

After trying several different recipes I came up with my own that is probably the best onion soup my friends have ever had -- so they tell me.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 507 Calories

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup butter
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 6 slices French bread, toasted
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 quart beef broth
• 3 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
• 10 onions, peeled and thinly sliced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Step 2

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir and cook onions in butter until golden brown, 15 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute. Pour in the beer and beef broth and season with mustard, thyme, black pepper and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.

Step 4

Remove bay leaf from soup and ladle soup into a large casserole or individual ovenproof bowls, leaving about 1 inch of room at the top of the dish or dishes. Float slices of toasted bread on the soup and pile generously with Gruyere.

Step 5

Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes, until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.