Meat Free Monday: French Onion Soup and Taglietelle Alfredo.
July 25, 2011 in Uncategorized
This recipe for French Onion Soup is kind of an extension of Friday’s Weekend Breakfast Special post. I was intending to link back to a previous post on Friday, and when I did – it was one of ‘THOSE’ posts! Remember – the ones that were cruelly struck down by that disease that us bloggers fear most – Photolessnessness ….. a situation that basically determined dinner on Friday night.
The reason I was going to link back to the recipe – which I have changed a little more than the first time that I posted it, WAS …. French Onion Soup is a ‘morning after the night before French breakfast Hangover cure. How’s that hey!! Keeping in character with my generally excessive nature – all too oft I have to soak up the ‘joie de vivre” of the night before that’s still doing an Olympic Gymnasts floor routine around my tum ……. ‘Snot pretty I tell you and a hearty breakfast is the Tripepi survival staple. Come to think of it – we pretty much cure, soothe, celebrate and reminisce about most events in life with food; it really is the Tripepi way.
As I stated in my first post – I scribbled this recipe down hastily whilst watching that gorgeous French Fox, Trish Deseine during her TV show – Trish’s Paris Kitchen a few years ago. Trish single handedly tore down the pretentious and precious, over cooked, over reduced, over baveuse and over ‘Fr-elitist” kak that had prevented me from even pretending to be interested in French food. I took to Italian food like a duck to water precisely because their rustic peasant approach appeals to my love of the democratic and unpretentious cooking.
The French serve this onion soup to their guests the morning after wedding revelry or a ‘nuit blanch’ or sleepless night– to sober everyone up. The French and Italians don’t just have a wedding reception – the friends and family will most often continue their celebrations at a family member’s home long after the bride and groom have left on honeymoon. They will either join the ‘sposini’ (newlyweds) at their hotel for breakfast or it the happy couple have ducked – the entire family will get together at a family members home and if you are French – you will be served this restorative and life giving soup!
French Onion Soup
by Trish Deseine – I have altered a few of the quantities to Tripepi’tise it!
Ingredients
300g butter
6 large onions – finely sliced on a mandolin if you have one!
3 bay leaves
300ml red wine – Eagles Nest Shiraz
500ml beef stock
6 sprigs of thyme
Long French loaf
1 clove of garlic
1 cup of grated gruyere cheese – I used a local Klein River dairy gruyere
Pepper
Salt
In a large heavy based pot, melt the butter and allow it to start to get some colour.
Don’t allow the butter to get too dark – add the onions, and stir them in well. Bring up to a high temperature to get them frying – then turn them down. You want the onions to slowly caramelise to bring the sweet sugary flavours out.
This slow browning will take you about 25 minutes. When they are brown and soft and have reduced down by 2/3.
Add the red wine, beef stock, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper. Be careful not to add too much salt – your stock will be slightly salty – so go slowly!
Again, bring the soup up to the boil and reduce to a gentle simmer for about 20 minutes.
While the soup is cooking –
cut slices of the long French loaf and toast them on both sides.
Rub each side of the toasted bread with the garlic clove
Serve out a portion of the soup
Top with two slices of the toast
Smother the toast with grated gruyere cheese and brown under the griller.
And that’s that!
I made extra – and froze it ….. which is a good
thing as I could use it’s restorative
properties today …. we partayed a little too much
yesterday here at the Casa Tripepi!
Not in the mood for soup?
Here is the link to my Linguine Alfredo – which also has Mamma’s Magical
healing properties!!!
Creamy Mushroom Pasta Heaven!
click on the pic below to be taken to the recipe!
It’s a cold & rainy day here on the East Coast today!
As always
Buon appetito
Xxx
jan
HealthyVegetarianFoods said on July 25, 2011
Wow!! as usual your posts & pictures are amazing.
janicetripepi said on July 25, 2011
Thanks Usha – have a great week hey! xxx jan
Sous-Chef said on July 25, 2011
I wondered when the LC pots would make an appearance! French Onion Soup is known as Fart Soup in the Green household
Sous-Chef said on July 25, 2011
Yours looks utterly delicious *licks screen*
Zabwan said on July 25, 2011
A french onion soup is high on my to-do list, Jan, thanks for the recipe and inspiration
xxxx
TheCreativePot said on July 25, 2011
Great minds think alike! I made this on Friday evening as a casual supper for two – will have to try it for breakfast next time.
PS: Are those miniature Le Creuset dishes? So jealous!
janicetripepi said on July 25, 2011
Thanks Marisa – YES they are hey! I just love them – and they are perfect for the oven! Hugs little mum xxx jan
janicetripepi said on July 25, 2011
Zabs – I was so surprised by just how much flavour this soup delivers! It’s definately worth a go and with this bestial weather ….. it’s perfect. Have a great day xxx jan
janicetripepi said on July 25, 2011
Thanks Sue – It surely gets the nether regions cracker jacking like anything!!! hahaha xxxx jan
Foodandthefab said on July 25, 2011
Hi Jan. Lovely step by step and styling outside. Have those very little pots! Yum
Kitchengirl said on July 25, 2011
Oh my great garlic – that looks simply amaaaazing!
janicetripepi said on July 25, 2011
Aw thanks Caro xxx C’etait superbe! xxxx jan
janicetripepi said on July 25, 2011
Aren’t those little potjies awesome Ish – I am going to make pies in them this week I think. I was given the as a rather fabulous gift! Thanks for your kind comments angel xxxx jan
kat64 said on July 25, 2011
I could bury my face in a bowl of that round about now! Looks so delicious!
Juno62 said on July 25, 2011
Oh my giddy aunt. Onions, garlic, cheese… a proper bistro-style onion soup! Your post makes me crave a bowl, Jan. Freezing me nuts off here in Cape Town. x
janicetripepi said on July 26, 2011
This is perfect for the cold weather – only thing is that it really DOES make one fart up a storm – so one who need to be able to hang ones derriere outside quite often!!! but – i mean REALLY ….. it’s just so worth a wee bit of wind! xxxx have a great day Juno xxx jan
janicetripepi said on July 26, 2011
Such a nice winter warmer this is – and it’s actually easy to make with only a few ingredients = if you don’t have gruyere cheese us cheddar – and if you don’t have a French Loaf – use your dood gewone normal loaf … it’s such a great peasant style dish!! xxx jan
tandy.sinclair said on July 26, 2011
I just cannot imagine this for breakfast, but if you leave now, I could have some for lunch! Do not freeze anything off xxxx
janicetripepi said on July 26, 2011
hahaha ….. i must admit – that if I had a hangover and had a plate of this – I am sure that there would be many happy returns…. capiche! Hope you had the best birthday EVER yesterday ange xxxxx jan