French onion soup

[FawnDrench]

I've got more than a bit of a yearning for some delicious French onion soup.
So I'm asking for your opinions about what ingredients to include in this please.
I've looked at lots of recipes and there is such a wide variety to choose from.

Some recipes say to use sherry, some say white wine, or red wine or cognac or brandy.
Some recipes include thyme but many don't mention any herbs.
And I won't even start on what cheese to use as this varies wildly from recipe to recipe too.

I'd be really grateful for any tips and also any of your tried and tested recipes for making French onion soup.

Thanks very much.

[Eminybob]

Ooh following this with interest. I had a hankering a couple of years ago, I bought a set of the little crock pots to serve them in too, but the recipe I used was rubbish and so I didn't bother again.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Delia's, absolutely Delia's here
Pop a couple of pickled walnuts on the melty gruyere toast too.

[BeenAndGone]

Was going to day Delia's too. It's simple to made and tastes amazing.

[BeenAndGone]

• Make

[HoneyDragon]

Spoonful of marmite does wonders to French onion soup.
I love it at this time of year.

[HoneyDragon]

I use Sherry or white wine usually as I have it to hand.

Thyme goes in if I can be arsed to go in the garden and get some.

As long as you're patient and really sweat down the onions till they are a nice mahogany colour then you've pretty much nailed it.

[HuevosRancheros]

Another vote for Delia here :)
Was thinking of this just this afternoon, as I started to come down with the cold that the rest of the family has
French onion soup cures colds :)

[Laska5772]

Felicity Cloake always has the perfect recipe ! Perfect French Onion Soup

[HopefulAnxiety]

Another vote for Delia. Essentials - beef stock and some kind of booze, sherry is very nice but I think madeira/brandy/white wine would also be good, I think red wine would be overpowering. I like thyme in mine.

[Eminybob]

Can anyone suggest a good ready made beef stock to use?

[FawnDrench]

Thanks one and all for the helpful suggestions and recipe recommendations.
Delia it is then...with a dollop of marmite.

[iklboo]

Another vote for really sweating the onions down properly. You've got to take your time with them. Then I use a splash of brandy and beef stock. I do mine in the slow cooker as well, cool overnight then reheat the next day. As Tom Kerridge would say - proper lush.

[HopefulAnxiety]

Eminy I find the beef stock concentrate/stock pots are better than ready made 'fresh' stock for some reason. I'd use stock pots or homemade stock.

[fruitscone]

I'd say caramelise the onions with a spot of sugar in the pans (takes ages, low heat so they don't burn), then veg stock and thyme.