Easy French Onion Short Rib Soup Recipe With Tasty Gruyere Toast

Crafting a soul-warming french onion short rib soup demands patience and culinary creativity.

Slow-cooked beef transforms humble ingredients into a luxurious dining experience.

Rich broth mingles with caramelized onions, creating deep, complex flavors.

Tender meat falls apart with gentle prodding, promising mouthwatering comfort.

Melted gruyere toast crowns this magnificent dish, adding crispy texture and decadent charm.

Chefs who embrace low-and-slow cooking techniques will adore this elevated classic.

Why French Onion Short Rib Soup Is Comfort Food

• Savor Comfort Food Perfection: Dive into a rich, hearty soup that wraps you in pure culinary comfort with tender short ribs and deeply caramelized onions.
• Master Impressive Cooking Skills: Transform simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish that looks and tastes like a professional chef prepared it, without requiring advanced cooking techniques.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Meal: Perfect for family gatherings, dinner parties, or cozy nights in, this soup guarantees smiles and satisfied taste buds with its layered flavors and cheesy toast topping.
• Customize with Ease: Adaptable recipe allows for flexible ingredient swaps and personalization, making it simple to accommodate different dietary preferences or pantry availability.

Ingredients Needed for French Onion Short Rib Soup

• Short Ribs: A rich and tender cut that adds deep flavor and satisfying texture to the soup.

• Chicken Broth: Creates a flavorful liquid foundation for the soup.
• Butter: Helps caramelize onions and adds rich, smooth depth.
• Bay Leaves, Star Anise: Provide aromatic undertones and complex flavor profile.

• Onions: The primary flavor base that develops a sweet, caramelized character.
• Shallots, Garlic: Add layers of savory and pungent notes to the soup.
• Thyme, Sage: Earthy herbs that complement the rich meat and provide herbal complexity.
• Red Chili Flakes: Introduces a subtle hint of warmth and spice.

• Baby Carrots: Add sweetness and nutritional value to the soup.

• Tamari: Provides a deep, umami seasoning element.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall flavor.

• French Bread: Creates a crispy base for the cheesy toast.
• Gruyere Cheese: Offers a nutty, melty topping that adds richness and texture.

• Fresh Thyme: Adds a bright, fresh herbal finish to the dish.

How to Make French Onion Short Rib Soup Perfectly

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Set your oven to a cozy 325F (165C) to create the perfect cooking environment for your delicious soup.

Step 2: Create Caramelized Onion Magic

Grab a large Dutch oven and melt butter over medium-high heat.

Toss in sliced onions and let them dance and soften for about 10 minutes. As they turn golden and sweet, sprinkle some black pepper to enhance their flavor.

Step 3: Build Aromatic Layers

• Shallots
• Garlic
• Thyme
• Sage
• Red chili flakes

Let these ingredients mingle and release their incredible aromas.

Step 4: Prepare the Hearty Protein

• Chicken broth
• Tamari
• Bay leaves
• Star anise

Cover the pot and slide it into the preheated oven.

Let it slow-cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until the ribs become meltingly tender.

Step 5: Add Colorful Carrots

During the last 1-2 hours of cooking, toss in baby carrots to add sweetness and vibrant color to your soup.

Step 6: Finish the Soup

Remove the pot from the oven. Fish out the bay leaves and star anise.

Gently remove bones from the ribs and shred the meat. Return the pot to low heat on the stove and taste, adjusting seasoning with salt as needed.

Step 7: Toast the Bread

Crank up the oven to 425F (220C). Spread French bread slices on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes until they’re crisp and dry.

Step 8: Create Cheesy Toasts

Switch the oven to broil. Sprinkle shredded Gruyere over each bread slice and broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbly, golden blanket.

Step 9: Serve with Flair

Ladle the rich, aromatic soup into bowls. Crown each serving with a Gruyere toast.

Finish with a sprinkle of black pepper and fresh thyme for a restaurant-worthy presentation.

Tips That Improve French Onion Short Rib Soup

• Select high-quality short ribs with good marbling for maximum flavor and tenderness.
• Caramelize onions slowly to develop deep, rich sweetness without burning.
• Remove bones carefully and shred meat gently to maintain its delicate texture.
• Use fresh thyme and sage for brighter, more vibrant herb notes in the soup.
• Control oven temperature precisely to ensure meat becomes fall-apart tender without drying out.

Variations to Try with Short Rib Onion Soup

• Vegetarian Umami Option: Replace short ribs with meaty portobello mushrooms, using vegetable broth and adding dried porcini for deep umami flavor.
• Slow Cooker Method: Transfer all ingredients to a slow cooker, cooking on low for 6-8 hours instead of using oven roasting technique.
• Lean Protein Swap: Substitute short ribs with lean beef chuck roast or bison meat for a lower-fat protein alternative that maintains rich flavor profile.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Use cashew cheese or nutritional yeast sprinkled on toasted bread instead of Gruyere, ensuring lactose-intolerant individuals can enjoy the soup's robust taste.

What Goes Well with French Onion Short Rib Soup

• Perfectly Paired Wine Selection: Choose a full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah that matches the rich, robust flavors of the short rib soup, complementing the deep meaty and caramelized onion notes.
• Elevate Bread Accompaniment: Serve a rustic sourdough or crusty artisan bread alongside the Gruyere toast, providing additional texture and a tangy contrast to the hearty soup's deep flavors.
• Crisp Palate Cleanser: Prepare a simple winter citrus salad with fennel and orange segments dressed in a light vinaigrette, cutting through the soup's richness and refreshing the palate between bites.

How to Store French Onion Short Rib Soup Safely

• Store soup in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain flavor integrity.
• Transfer soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch headspace. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Separate meat and broth if possible for better preservation.
• Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Warm gently over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add splash of chicken broth to restore original consistency. Avoid rapid boiling to prevent meat from becoming tough.

FAQs

• What are short ribs and why are they great for this soup?

Short ribs are a flavorful, tender cut of beef from the rib area. They’re perfect for slow cooking because their high fat content and connective tissue break down during long cooking, creating rich, melt-in-your-mouth meat that adds incredible depth to the soup.

• Can I substitute beef broth for chicken broth?

Yes, beef broth works wonderfully in this recipe. It will enhance the meaty flavor of the short ribs and complement the overall richness of the soup. Just use the same quantity as the chicken broth in the original recipe.

• How do I know when the short ribs are fully cooked?

The short ribs are done when they’re extremely tender and easily pull apart with a fork.

French Onion Short Rib Soup With Gruyere Toast Recipe

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4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Savory French onion short rib soup delivers comfort wrapped in rich, caramelized flavors that dance between rustic French countryside tradition and modern culinary artistry. Melted gruyere toast crowns this hearty bowl, inviting you to savor each spoonful of robust, slow-cooked goodness.

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Ingredients

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Main Proteins:

• 4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
• 68 cups (16.75 liters) low-sodium chicken broth

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 2 shallots, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 star anise (optional)

Seasoning and Dairy:

• 6 tablespoons salted butter
• 1/2 cup tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
• Black pepper, to taste
• Red chili flakes, to taste
• 6 slices French bread
• 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese

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Instructions

1. Prepare a low-temperature oven at 325F (165C) for slow-cooking the short ribs.
2. Melt butter in an oven-safe Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Caramelize onions for approximately 10 minutes until they turn soft and golden, seasoning with black pepper during the process.
3. Enhance the aromatic profile by incorporating shallots, minced garlic, thyme, sage, and a hint of red chili flakes into the caramelized onions.
4. Gently nestle short ribs into the fragrant mixture. Pour chicken broth, tamari, bay leaves, and star anise over the meat. Seal the pot and transfer to the preheated oven for 2.5-3 hours until the meat becomes incredibly tender and effortlessly separates from the bone.
5. Introduce baby carrots during the final 1-2 hours of braising to infuse additional depth and sweetness into the soup.
6. Extract the pot from the oven, removing bay leaves and star anise. Carefully separate meat from bones, then shred it delicately. Return the pot to low stovetop heat, adjusting seasoning with salt as needed.
7. Elevate the oven temperature to 425F (220C). Arrange French bread slices on a baking sheet, toasting for 10 minutes until they achieve a crisp, dry texture.
8. Activate the broiler. Crown each bread slice with a generous layer of shredded Gruyere, broiling for 2-3 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden crust.
9. Serve the rich, robust soup in individual bowls, crowning each with a molten Gruyere toast. Finish with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and delicate thyme leaves.

Notes

• Caramelize onions slowly to develop deep, rich sweetness without burning, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning.
• Use bone-in short ribs for maximum flavor and tenderness, allowing collagen to break down during long cooking process.
• Choose low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels, letting you adjust seasoning precisely at the end.
• Substitute lactose-free Gruyere or plant-based cheese for dairy-sensitive diners, maintaining the recipe’s signature topping texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 633 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 590 mg
• Fat: 42 g
• Saturated Fat: 21 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 44 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg