Description
French Onion Gnocchi Soup is a comforting and hearty dish that combines the rich, caramelized sweetness of slow-cooked onions with tender gnocchi and a savory broth, topped with melted Gruyère or Italian style cheese. This soup offers a delightful twist on classic French onion soup by incorporating gnocchi for added texture and heartiness, perfect for cozy evenings.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 10 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoons pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Soup Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup flour
- 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons bay leaves (2 leaves)
- 10 cups boiling water
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh or packaged gnocchi
- 3 cups shredded Italian style cheese or Gruyère
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Add the butter, oil, and sugar to a large pot over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the sliced onions, salt, and pepper and stir. Cook uncovered, stirring every 5–8 minutes, until the onions are golden brown and caramelized, about 40–50 minutes. If onions start to stick or burn, add a small splash of water and stir to loosen.
- Add Chicken Broth: Pour in the chicken broth and stir well, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook for 5–10 minutes to allow the liquid to reduce and the onions to thicken into a jammy consistency.
- Incorporate Flour and Liquids: Stir in the flour constantly for about 1 minute. Then add the boiling water, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cook for 30 minutes to develop flavor.
- Cook the Gnocchi: Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Add the gnocchi and stir gently, cooking until the gnocchi float to the top, indicating they are done.
- Serve with Cheese: Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with shredded Italian style cheese or Gruyère and Parmesan cheese.
- Optional Broiling Step: If using broiler-safe bowls, place them on a baking sheet and broil for 1–3 minutes, watching carefully until the cheese melts and starts to brown for a classic French onion soup finish.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve the soup warm for the best flavor and comfort.
Notes
- Caramelizing onions requires patience—cook slowly for 40–50 minutes to achieve deep golden brown color and rich flavor.
- If onions stick and risk burning, add a splash of water and stir to prevent scorching.
- Gruyère cheese is traditional and offers authentic flavor, but an Italian style shredded cheese blend works well, too.
- Broil only with bowls labeled as broiler-safe and watch closely to avoid burning the cheese.
- Adjust seasoning before serving to suit your taste.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days; note that gnocchi may absorb some broth during storage.
- The soup base can be made ahead; add gnocchi just before serving when reheating.
- Reheat gently on stovetop or microwave; add extra broth or water if soup thickens too much.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
