With the unexpected appearance of rain today, this soup turned out to be the perfect dish. It’s simple and comforting with a slightly gourmet twist. Though fairly easy to make, the soup is time-consuming. If you’ve caramelized onions before, I’m sure you understand. But, we all know the final product is well worth the wait–sweet and buttery onions that melt in your mouth. The addition of fried sage leaves and sage butter gave the soup that extra boost of flavor and complexity it needed.
Now the only thing that would make this soup even easier to make is an immersion blender. I’ve already asked Santa for one this year. :)
The onions need to be a bit more golden (didn’t get a photo of the final result).
Recipe:
12 tbsp. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, divided
4 medium sweet onions, thinly sliced
4 cups low-salt chicken broth, plus more as needed
1/2-inch pieces torn French bread
Fresh sage leaves
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Melt 6 tbsp. butter in heavy extra-large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté until onions begin to soften, 15 to 18 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and sauté until onions are very tender and deep golden brown, stirring often and adjusting heat as needed, about an hour longer. Transfer 2 tbsp. caramelized onions to small bowl and reserve for garnish.
Add 4 cups broth to remaining onions in pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes to blend flavors. Cool slightly. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return to same pot and add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls to thin soup to desired consistency. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.
Melt 2 tbsp. butter in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add torn bread pieces and sauté until bread pieces are crisp and golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.
Cook remaining 4 tbsp. butter in small saucepan over medium heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes. Add sage leaves and cook until slightly crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer leaves to small plate lined with paper towels; reserve brown butter in saucepan.
Divide soup among bowls and top with caramelized onions, croutons, fried sage leaves and sage brown butter.
Recipe adapted from Epicurious.
Oh Caroline! This soup is screaming my name! It looks fantastic – all of my favorite flavors. I’ve asked Santa for an immersion blender too, so I think I’ll put this on my list of things to make after the holidays. ;)
I know when I get one, I’m going to want to use it all of the time, so I’m sure I’ll pick certain recipes just so I can use it, haha. :)
Yum! I made sage brown butter as a sauce for a pasta dish and it was amazing. I can only imagine how good this soup is. I’ve always wanted to try making onion soup!
Mmm yes it’s delicious with pasta as well!
Oh my…this soup looks positively dreamy Caroline. I’m IN! It is so dark and rainy in our neck of the woods, isn’t it? I would totally put in the time for those gorgeous caramelized onions because you are so right, they are well worth it. Can’t wait to try this one!
I know, where did this rain come from!? I don’t mind too much though–makes it actually feel like winter here. :)
i’m in love! i can do long recipes as long as they result in something like this! wow!
I couldn’t agree more! ;)
Most definitely worth the weight! Scrumptious!
:-) Mandy
Thanks Mandy! :)
Ohhhh man! Totally worth the wait. Looks great. Hopefully Santa will leave a nice immersion blender under your tree this year … :)
Crossing my fingers!! I’ve hinted a few times, so we’ll see. ;)
Outrageously tasty, I can tell. What a great combination!!! Forget the immersion blender, I’m going to immerse *myself* in this soup.
Haha!! I love it, thanks Kathryn. :)
I can feel the enticing smell from here! I love onion soup and haven’t had it for ages. Yours looks fabulous and sage addition is a very original touch.
My apartment still smells of the onion soup (cooked it last night). I can’t decide if that’s somewhat gross or great, since it smells so good, haha. Thanks Sissi! x
I LOVE onion soup but never have I thought of adding sage brown butter, fried sage & homemade croutons to mine. Wonderful and I can’t wait to try it
Thanks so much, Kay! The sage was really a nice addition. :)
This is too cool. Katherine kept seeing brown butter in sweet dishes or for ravioli, but we hadn’t seen something like this. Just fantastic.
Ah but it’s so delicious in ravioli! Thanks Greg. :)
I’m with Greg and never have seen brown butter, with or without sage, used in onion soup. Sounds delicious and those onions are definitely worth the wait!
I guess I really hadn’t either until now, ha! Thanks so much, John.
I have to say, I’m not a big fan of onion soup, but this looks delicious. Such a rewarding feeling when a recipe takes a long time to make but turns out to be worth the wait.
I know, right?? And it was very worth it!
I love onion soup and the look of yours is so tempting right now!
Aw, thanks so much! :)
Oh, the ingredients list in the title just about took my breath away…sage butter, fried sage… OMG… and what a beautiful presentation too – does the sage flavour come through the onion? Gorgeous Caroline.
Fried sage gets me every time…I love it! Thank you so much, Kelly. Yes, you can definitely taste the touch of sage from the leaves and butter. Next time, I’d use more butter to fry the leaves so that I had more sage brown butter. :-D
–Caroline,
This looks utterly Dreamy & Comforting.
Do you really cook like this all. the. time? So Impressive. x
Thank you so much! I cook like this when I have time, but it really depends on the work week. Sometimes it’s not glamorous at all and I either eat out or heat up good old Trader Joe’s frozen dinners. ;)
absolutely worth the wait! c
Indeed! :)
Unexpected rain can be really nice sometimes, don’t you think?;) We have been having so much of them lately; at the most unexpected times and yet I do like being surprised by the lovely rain which, as I have observed, comes in the late evening and is just perfect to snuggle under the covers in the bed at night with a good book! Of course, after a good bowl of soup for comfort like this ;)
It actually can be really nice, I agree! Perfect snuggle weather…if only I had a fireplace at my apartment! ;)
You’re right… this has a definite gourmet feel to it… the browned butter with sage, caramelized onion.. homemade croutons.. all top-notch in my books! I would make this one for sure, it would be worth the wait. I could always read while I’m stirring:)
Brilliant idea…I’m all about multi-tasking! :)
Looks tasty! I notice you’re on your way to 100,000 hits, Caroline; nice work!
Thanks so much Hook!!
Such a beautifully styled soup. I LOVE onion soups…yes, lots and lots of time is needed but it’s SO worth it. I think onion soup is my favorite!
Thanks Joanne! It’s quickly becoming one of my favorites as well. :)
Oh I love everything about your soup! and those croutons! perfect for a rainy day
I love soup in general, but something about eating it on a rainy day is so much more appealing! haha
Wonderful looking soup Caroline – I love onion soup in any form… Onion is so amazing, sometimes it’s nice to have it as the star of a dish instead of just an enhancement in the background. Can’t believe I have a friend who hates onion and refuses to eat it, even cooked…. freaking weirdo :/ It’s like the base of every food in the world!!!
Thank you Charles! No way, refused to eat it? Really?! I include it in almost every dish. I guess that’s like my dislike for chocolate though…I get told that’s pretty weird. :/ haha
hope Santa answers your wishes :) I love the idea of onion and sage together!
I hope so too!! ;)
i love onion soup! i think i need an immersion blender too from santa :)
Yes you do! It will really come in handy. :)
Your addition of fried sage leaves (swoon!) truly makes this soup exceptional. I’ll be making this one very very soon—but I’ll use veggie broth in deference to my veggie husband.
Like Tandy, I hope Santa is good to you!
Thanks so much, Nancy! And veggie broth would do the trick as well.
I love caramelized onions and sage. This soup looks incredible.
Thanks Alli!! x
What a lovely bowl of soup! I added brown butter with sage to my mashed potatoes last night! I know how good it would be added to onion soup! Excellent!
Oh my gosh, I’m sure those mashed potatoes were incredible! I’ve got to try that out.
I’ve been waiting for this post – and it was worth the wait! Simply gorgeous and I’m sure very, very tasty!
Very tasty indeed! Thanks so much Courtney. :)
Mmm, I’ve always wanted to make onion soup but don’t really know why I haven’t yet! Now looks like a good time to try out your recipe!
There ya go, perfect excuse to make it now. ;)
I’m certain you will exceed quicker with a sticker., but, your dishes already emanate love …Best Wishes….and Merry Christmas
Unless you tell me not to…I’m entering your blog to the foodnetwork, and bravo…
They are bound to come up with a show deserving of your dishes sooner or later…You my lady, are without a doubt, a culinary Artist.
paul
You are just far too kind, Paul. Thank you so much, your supporting words really mean a lot. I’m crossing my fingers that maybe an opportunity will come in the future…would be pretty fantastic. :) Merry Christmas to you as well! x
I think I will have the patient to wait even a day just for a soup as flavorful as that specially now its raining here which is odd as its already summer
Ohhh can you imagine what they’d taste like after cooking a whole day? Well, they might burn, but if not, the flavor would be incredible! haha
my oh my! This sounds amazing! What a wonderful combination of ingredients!
Why thank you so very much!
Onion soup is one of my favorite soups this time of year! I can’t wait to give this a try. Soooo worth the wait! :D
Definitely!! Thanks so much Christina. :)
I adore onion soup (always reminds me of Paris!) but have never eaten a blended one. I´m a lucky one with a stick blender, so next time i make it will have to try your delicious version, yummy!
Lucky you!! It would make the process much, much easier. :-D
I hate onions, but love caramelized version. I know I would love this soup! Simply divine :)
I’m actually the same way…I definitely prefer eating them caramelized!
Oh my word – look at that color! This is my husband’s all time favorite soup! Love the homemade croutons for it!
Thanks Erin! I mean, buttery croutons…how can you go wrong, right? haha
Divine Caroline…simply divine!
Thanks Jed! :)
Wow…look at that pot filled with onions! I love caramalized onions and this soup looks so thick and filling!! Very clever!!
Thanks so much, Linda! I love the caramelizing process–to have an entire pot filled of onions diminish to almost nothing…crazy!