Onion And Cider Soup With Roquefort Croutons Recipes

Steps:

• In a heavy kettle cook the onions in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour, or until they are golden brown. Stir in the cider, the broth, the water, the brandy, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer the soup, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Arrange the toast slices on a baking sheet, sprinkle the Roquefort on them, and broil the croutons under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat until the cheese begins to melt. Ladle the soup into heated bowls and float a Roquefort crouton in each serving.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven over high heat. Add the oxtail (or beef shoulder) in a single layer (work in batches, if necessary to avoid crowding the pan), and sear until the undersides are brown (do not turn). Season generously with salt and transfer to a plate.
• Coarsely chop two of the onions; add to the pot, along with the celery, carrots, bay leaves and thyme. Lower heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and beginning to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Return the beef to the pot. Pour in 8 cups water. Simmer mixture gently until the meat is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
• Transfer beef to a bowl to cool for another use. Strain liquid into a bowl over a fine-mesh sieve; press gently on the solids with the back of a spatula to extract as much flavor as possible. Discard the solids; you should have about 10 cups broth (add water if necessary to equal 10 cups).
• Halve the remaining 6 onions through the root end, then peel and thinly slice them lengthwise. Melt the butter in the bottom of the Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, tossing occasionally, until deep golden-brown and caramelized, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Pour in the port and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, for 3 minutes. Pour in the broth and simmer mixture over low heat for 30 minutes. Season with salt and lemon juice, if desired. (For a smaller group, you could refrigerate some of the soup and reheat it later.)
• While the broth simmers, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet and toast until golden, about 12 minutes. Rub the garlic halves over the surface of the bread.
• Heat the broiler and arrange a rack 4 to 6 inches from the flame. Using a cheese slicer, thinly slice 3 ounces of Gruyère. Coarsely grate the remaining cheese. Float the broiled bread over the surface of the hot soup. Layer the cheese slices over the bread; scatter the grated cheese over it. Transfer the Dutch oven to the oven and broil until cheese is golden and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes (watch to see that it does not burn).
• To serve, use kitchen shears or scissors to cut the bread and cheese into portions. Ladle soup, bread and cheese into individual bowls.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and sea salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until onions are deep golden.
• Add cider and simmer until reduced by half, then add stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with pepper.
• Meanwhile, place bread on a foil-lined tray and cook both sides under a hot grill until dried but not browned. Spread with mustard and top with cheese, then grill until cheese bubbles and browns.
• Serve soup topped with the croûtons and sprigs of thyme.

Steps:

• Halve and thinly slice the onions. Over medium-low heat, melt the butter in an enameled cast-iron pot and sauté the onion slices, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown. When the onions are caramelized, add half of the Roquefort and all of the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 more minute. Add the chicken stock and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Thinly slice the baguette then toast the slices for croutons. Grate the Gruyere and crumble the remaining 3 ounces of Roquefort. When ready to serve, preheat the broiler. Check the soup for proper seasoning - soup will always need adjusting at the last minute. Ladle into ovenproof bowls. Drop a teaspoon of Armagnac into each bowl of soup and cover with the croutons. Sprinkle with the Gruyere and crumbled Roquefort. Place the bowls of soup under the broiler until a bubbly, golden-brown crust forms. It will take a couple of minutes. Serve. Recipe courtesy of Chef Ken Frank, La Toque, Napa Valley, CA Nutrition Facts per Serving Yield: Serves 4 Calories: 573 Fat. Total: 41g Fiber: 2g Carbohydrates, Total: 18g Sodium: 1145mg % Cal. from Fat: 64% Cholesterol: 128mg Protein: 30g