French Onion Soup: Applebee's Cheese Choice

Applebee's French Onion Soup is a popular choice for those seeking a comforting and flavourful meal. The soup is crafted with carefully sautéed onions, beef broth, and a combination of cheeses, resulting in a delightful blend of textures and tastes. The key to its success lies in the slow cooking of the onions, allowing their natural sugars to caramelize and create a sweet base. This copycat recipe can be recreated at home, offering a warm and satisfying dish that rivals the restaurant version.

Applebee's French Onion Soup recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 10 cups sliced white onions (6 to 7 large onions)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, chopped
• 10 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 tablespoon beef base
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 tablespoons grated Provolone cheese or slices
• Firm bread, such as sourdough or French bread

Optional Ingredients:

Salt, to taste

Instructions:

• Heat butter and oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.
• Add the sliced onions and salt. Sauté the onions until they are browned, stirring frequently to prevent burning. This will take up to 30 minutes, and you want the onions to be a caramel colour.
• When the onions are almost fully caramelized, add the chopped garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes, until fragrant.
• Add the beef broth, beef base, and black pepper. Taste and add more salt if needed. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes over low heat.
• Preheat the oven to broil.
• Ladle the soup into 8 individual oven-proof bowls.
• Place a slice of bread on top of each bowl.
• Top each slice of bread with 1 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese and provolone cheese.
• Place the bowls under the broiler and cook until the cheese just begins to brown.

Tips:

• If you have a food processor or a mandolin, use it to slice the onions quickly and evenly.
• White onions are recommended for their sweeter taste, but you can also use yellow onions.
• Beef base is a paste of concentrated beef flavour, similar to a bouillon cube but with more flavour. It can be found near the bouillon cubes in most grocery stores.
• You can also use Swiss cheese or Gruyere cheese instead of provolone.

How to cook the onions

To cook the onions for Applebee's French Onion Soup, you'll want to take your time to ensure they don't burn. The high sugar content in onions means they can burn easily, so it's important to cook them slowly to allow them to caramelize.

First, slice your onions. You can use a food processor or mandolin to speed up this process, or simply slice them by hand. For this recipe, you'll need about 2.5 pounds of mild onions, or 6-7 large white onions.

Next, heat some butter and oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt, and sauté until they are browned. This will take around 20-30 minutes, and you'll want to stir frequently to prevent burning. You're aiming for the onions to reach a caramel color.

Once the onions are almost fully caramelized, add some chopped garlic. The amount of garlic will depend on your taste, but a couple of cloves or 1.5 teaspoons of chopped garlic should be enough. Cook the onion and garlic together for another 2 minutes or so, until the garlic becomes fragrant.

At this point, you can add the beef broth, beef base or stock, and black pepper. Give it a taste and add more salt if needed. Then, simply simmer for 30-45 minutes over low heat.

And that's it! You've now got a pot of delicious, soft, sautéed onions ready to be turned into French Onion Soup.

The best type of bread to use

French onion soup is a classic dish, and Applebee's has certainly put its own spin on it. When it comes to choosing the best type of bread to use for this soup, there are a few options that can enhance the flavour and texture. Here's a detailed guide to help you select the perfect bread for your soup.

Sourdough or French Bread

Applebee's French onion soup calls for a firm type of bread, and sourdough or French bread fits the bill perfectly. These breads have a chewy texture and a tangy flavour that pairs well with the sweetness of the onions. They also hold up nicely when soaked in the soup, maintaining a slight crunch even after being broiled with cheese.

Texas Toast or Hamburger Buns

For a heartier option, Texas toast or hamburger buns can be used. These thicker slices of bread provide a more substantial base for the soup and can be baked in the oven until golden brown and crispy. This adds a nice contrast of textures between the soft soup and the crunchy bread.

Onion Rolls or Ciabatta

Onion rolls, particularly the bottom halves, can be a great choice for this soup. The onion flavour enhances the overall taste of the dish. Alternatively, ciabatta, a type of Italian bread, can be used. It has a firm texture similar to sourdough and a crispy crust, making it ideal for holding up to the weight of the cheese and soup.

Croutons

If you prefer a smaller bread option, croutons are a great choice. They can be made from any of the breads mentioned above and add a nice crunch to the soup. Simply slice the bread into small cubes, bake them in the oven, and sprinkle them on top of the soup before broiling.

Tips for Preparation

When preparing the bread for Applebee's French onion soup, there are a few key steps to follow. First, slice the bread to a thickness that will allow it to soak up the soup without becoming too soggy. Second, baking or toasting the bread before adding it to the soup will give it a nice, crispy texture. Finally, don't be afraid to experiment with different types of bread to find your preferred taste and texture combination.

Oven temperature and timing

To make Applebee's French Onion Soup, you'll need to preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is preheating, you can start preparing the soup by heating oil and/or butter in a large stockpot or saucepan over medium to medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and sauté until they are soft, translucent, and starting to brown. This should take around 15-30 minutes.

Once the onions are almost fully caramelized, add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Then, add the beef broth, beef base or stock, water, salt, and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

While the soup is cooking, prepare the bread by slicing a firm bread of your choice, such as sourdough, French bread, or hamburger buns. Place the bread slices directly on the oven racks and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Once the soup and bread are ready, ladle the soup into individual oven-proof bowls and place a slice of bread on top of each. Sprinkle or place slices of Parmesan and provolone cheese on top of the bread.

Finally, set your oven to broil and place the bowls of soup on the middle rack. Broil for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts and starts to brown.

And that's it! You've recreated Applebee's French Onion Soup at home. Enjoy the warm, cheesy goodness!

The best cheese to use

French onion soup is a classic dish, and Applebee's has certainly put its own spin on it. The key to a great French onion soup is the cheese, and getting the right balance of cheeses is essential.

The cheese is the crowning glory of this soup, adding a final flourish that pulls all the flavours together. So, what is the best cheese to use?

A combination of Parmesan and Provolone cheese is a popular choice for this soup. The Parmesan adds a sharp, salty flavour, while the Provolone melts beautifully and has a mild, slightly sweet taste that doesn't overwhelm the other ingredients. This combination of cheeses creates a delicious, savoury topping that complements the sweet onions and beefy broth.

When preparing the soup, it's important to get the right amount of cheese. Too much cheese can be overwhelming, so a light sprinkling of each type of cheese is best. This allows the other flavours to shine through while still adding a delicious, cheesy element.

Some recipes suggest using shredded Parmesan, as it melts more easily and creates a nice, even coverage. Sliced Provolone is also a good option, as it melts well and creates a nice, golden brown topping.

For those who want to experiment, Swiss cheese is a suitable alternative to Provolone. It has a slightly stronger flavour but will still work well with the other ingredients.

So, there you have it! The best cheeses to use in Applebee's French onion soup are Parmesan and Provolone, added in just the right amounts to create a delicious, cheesy masterpiece.

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