What To Serve With French Onion Soup?
Here’s how I got the idea to write about what to serve with French onion soup in the first place:
A little over a week ago, I organized a dinner party for a couple of our mutual friends, nothing huge, just a small gathering to catch up and see how everyone’s doing. I wanted to make something with a homey feel to it, so I decided to go with a French onion soup.
One of our friends was kind enough to offer to bring something herself – a salad, maybe – so she wanted to know what I plan on cooking. When I told her, I could see it in her eyes – she had no clue what would pair well with my French onion soup. 😛
If you’re anything like her, don’t worry; today, I’m going to let you in on all the secrets of serving French onion soup and, most importantly, what goes well with it – so, keep on reading. 🙂
First Things First: What Is French Onion Soup?
The modern-day origins of this bistro classic known as the French onion soup can be traced back to 18th century Paris and, as far as bistro food goes, this is probably one of the most delicious examples of their simple, home-style cuisine.
But when did it become so popular in the United States?
Well, according to my research, the French onion soup gained its popularity back in the 1960s, when there was an overall growing interest in French cuisine.
I’m not sure if that is true or not, but I do recall that my mother used to make it when I was a youngster and that she later taught me how to make it when I was old enough, so I suppose there must be some truth to it.
In addition, let me say this:
It just requires a few simple ingredients (onions, broth, and butter are the most important ones) and a few of hours of your time to create the sweet and savory concoction.
Here, onions are a key component and require the most time to prepare. The key is to caramelize them extremely slowly; in most cases, this process takes 45 minutes. But if you’re going to do it, do it well; don’t attempt to rush it.
Okay, time to move on; the reason why you’re here is to learn what to serve with French onion soup, so here’s what you need to know.
Further Reading: Most Recommended Thermoses For Soup
Dishes That Pair Well With French Onion Soup
I’m going to let you in on a little secret:
The best way to complement the sweet and savory, with a hint of the salty flavor of French onion soup, is to pick a dish that brings what’s missing from your menu – something sour or bitter.
What To Serve With French Onion Soup?
So, let’s take a closer look at your options:
Meat Dishes
- While I’m aware that the French onion soup can be fairly filling on its own, meaning it could work not only as an appetizer but as a main dish, as well. But try explaining that to my husband – as far as he’s concerned, it doesn’t count as a proper meal if there’s no meat on the table. So, over the years, I learned that venison stakes pair well with French onion soup.
- However, if you would serve fish with your French onion soup instead, I recommend giving tuna dishes a try.
- Also, if you want to add a hint of bitterness to your meat dish, a little arugula or watercress will go a long way.
Bread
- If you want to make your French onion soup super filling, you should try adding bread.
- Everyone likes it, and it’s a great way to turn the soup into a main dish, so it’s worth giving a shot. Since we have a French theme going on here, a baguette is an excellent choice.
- Of course, you could also go for the healthier option – which I always support and advocate for – and choose whole-wheat bread instead.
Adding Some Bitterness
- Since it cleanses your palate, bitterness really suits the distinct, intense onion flavor of the French onion soup.
- Now, tell me, how well do you know your greens? Here’s why I’m asking – leafy greens are, as I mentioned earlier, commonly known for their bitterness. The leading two in this category are kale and spinach; you could sauté them and serve them as a side dish.
Sourness Works Just As Well
- Besides bitterness, the perfect way to complement the French onion soup’s complex flavors is to add some acidity to the mix.
- But what’s the best way to do that? I’ll tell you the same thing I said to my friend: There’s no way you could go wrong with a classic, crispy green salad, as long as you remember to add a little twist to the standard recipe.
- For example, you could experiment with the dressing – lemon juice and capers are an excellent duo, and they’ll add the desired amount of acidity (or sourness) to your salad. While leafy greens are commonly considered to be bitter (I’ll talk a bit more about these in a second), lettuce doesn’t fall into that category. Just by using the right ingredients, you can turn it into a perfect, sour companion for your French onion soup.
What About Drinks?
Do you know how they say the French think of wine as a part of their everyday life?
Well, if you want t
o add a genuinely French vibe to your dinner (I know I like to create entire themed menus from time to time), then the wine is unquestionably the way to go.
It might seem like a counter-intuitive thing to do – pairing liquids with liquids – but trust me, a glass of good, quality wine with your French onion soup will take the entire experience to the next level.
Now, red or white wine?
To tell you the truth, I tried both and had equally good results – it depends on what kind of broth you used. As usual, beef broth calls for red wine, while chicken broth calls for white – it’s as simple as that.
However, there’s one thing you should pay attention to, and that’s how the wine’s body matches the consistency of your soup. I would recommend a full or medium-bodied wine.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I served Pinot Noir at my dinner party, so it’s safe to say that the combination works.
Final Words
If there’s one thing I’d like you to keep in mind once you’re done reading this article, it’s that cooking should be a fun and creative experience. It should be about you discovering which flavors work together and which ones just don’t.
As far as French onion soup goes, “sour” and “bitter” are just vague guidelines, so treat them as such and try to come up with a solution on your own – it’s way more fun that way.
That being said, I sincerely hope this article helped you get a clearer picture of what to serve with French onion soup.
As always, feel free to leave a comment and tell me more about your favorite menu ideas – I’ll be more than happy to give them a try.