If the weather is cold and we want some warmth, then soup comes to our rescue. So, this winter, enjoy French onion soup at your own home. This soup is very easy to make and tastes delicious. Furthermore, let’s see what foods form a good combination with French Onion Soup and make it a complete main dish.
French onion soup is not just onion; it has lots of things to offer. This soup is tasty as well as very nutritious. Just think about having this yummy soup with other side dishes and getting cozy.
It tastes great alone, but if you want something to accompany, then we are here for you. We have made a list of foods that pair well with this soup. And you will get to enjoy the great combination of these flavorful dishes.
1. French Onion Soup
As the name suggests, “French Onion Soup” comes from France, and its most important ingredient is, of course, onion. But just onion and water will obviously taste bland, so other ingredients are also required.
The French onion soup was peasant’s food. In the past, onions were very affordable, and anyone could buy them. So, rich people usually avoided onion. But, one night, when King Louis XV was very hungry, he made this soup with just three ingredients, i.e., butter, onion, and champagne.
Since then, onion soup has gradually become popular. Many chefs began to use onions in many of their dishes, and they also modified the onion soup. The simple French Onion Soup was no longer the same.
Not just in France, but people from other countries too began to love this delicious soup.
Onions were caramelized, and other ingredients like butter, sugar, garlic, chicken or beef broth, white wine, herbs, cheese, and bread also became a part of it. Since then, everyone has started to enjoy this flavorful soup.
1.1. How to make French Onion Soup
To make this delicious soup, start by slicing onions and then caramelize them with the help of butter and olive oil. Then add some sugar and salt and leave it to cook until it turns brown. Then add garlic and toss it for a minute or so.
Now, it’s time to put wine in, add the beef broth of your choice, and cook for at least half an hour. Lastly, season the soup with the herbs of your choice and add more salt if you prefer so.
Finally, serve it with toasted bread on top of the soup with the addition of cheese over the bread. Now, it is ready to be eaten, so enjoy!
1.2. Taste of French Onion Soup
The taste of French onion soup may vary based on the person who makes it and the recipe they use. It also depends on the ingredients used to make it. Different countries have their own versions of it.
The soup has not become the “National Treasure” of France without any reason. Many people follow their own French onion soup recipe.
It has a unique aroma and flavorful taste with a warm temperature. Generally, it tastes slightly sweet as the onions have been caramelized. Then you will get to enjoy a variety of flavours, such as savoury from broth, half soggy, half crunchy croutons, melted cheese, and so on.
You can have it in broth or as a soggy bread form when it soaks up the broth. Overall, this soup is comforting, full of warmth, and full of flavour. So, make sure to enjoy this in cold winter with some other dishes accompanying it.
2. What to Eat with French Onion Soup
Almost Everyone craves soup during the winter season. So, try the amazing and delicious French onion soup this winter with some side dishes. Just put in a little bit of effort, and your comfort food will be ready.
From Salad to Steak and from veg to non-veg dishes, there are a variety of options to choose from. So, now let’s see what to eat with French onion soup and get a wholesome dish.
2.1. Scalloped Potatoes
Let’s start our list with the thin and creamy potatoes. This balances well with French onion soup because it has at thin and crunchy texture. You also don’t have to invest a lot of time making this, and it takes fewer ingredients.
For this item, you just need to have potatoes, onions, cream sauce, and seasonings like parsley, salt, pepper, and garlic. Even making cream sauce is easy with just some ingredients like milk, butter, broth, flour, and cheese if necessary.
Layer all these ingredients and leave them to bake until the potatoes turn golden brown and are ready. Enjoy this yummy dish with hot and cheesy French onion soup.
2.2. Caesar Salad
Pair your delicious and rich French onion soup with this classic salad. Caesar salad is very delicious and nutritious. You just need crisp romaine lettuce and croutons with a lot of seasonings.
The main part is seasonings in this salad. So, you must season it well with Feta cheese, an egg, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon Mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper.
The combination of this delicious salad and warm and cozy French onion soup is going to do wonders for your taste buds. Ahhh! It is delicious and rich in texture and aroma. Stay Healthy with these two amazing and tasty dishes.
2.3. Ratatouille
A pair of two classic French Dishes can never go wrong. So, you must include this healthy and vibrant dish in your list of what to eat with French onion soup. For this dish, you need some colourful veggies, sauce, and seasonings.
For veggies, you can take Eggplant, Zucchini, squash, tomato, and red and yellow bell pepper. Place these fresh veggies alternatively over tomato paste made with olive oil, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper.
After placing the veggies, drizzle some oil over them, season them more, and then bake these veggies until they become tender. Now, your dish is ready to be eaten with French onion soup.
This nutritious and delicious duo is just awesome, and you get to eat vibrant vegetables with a lot of tasty seasonings. Enjoy your salty and meaty soup with these fresh and crunchy vegetables.
2.4. Croissants
Another dish that goes along with French onion soup is French bread and croissant. This buttery and warm dish tastes great with any soup, and French onion soup is no exception.
You can either buy croissants or just make them at home yourself. This puffy and fluffy bread pairs very well with French onion soup, and you can enjoy these warm dishes at your home during winter.
2.5. Steak
It’s time to prepare a juicy and tasty steak with French onion soup. Many people know how to make steak, and for fine dining, they usually choose this meal.
So, just imagine that deliciousness multiplied. This soft and juicy steak is going to tingle on your taste buds. Also, French onion soup, with its thick consistency, is going to pair extremely well with the steak.
Once your steak is done, serve it with butter and some seasonings on top of it and enjoy your fancy and delicious dinner.
2.6. Grilled Chicken Pesto Panini
Now, it’s time to serve your warm French onion soup with this delicious Chicken Pesto Panini. Just imagine the crusty texture of bread and the cheese inside with the hint of fresh herbs.
For this Chicken Panini, you will need Pesto sauce, slices of chicken breasts, basil pesto, sandwich thins, red pepper strips, and mozzarella cheese in addition to oregano, olive oil, and ground pepper.
This dish will be a great match for French onion soup, and you can enjoy this as a main dish. Even thinking about the crunchy bite with cheesy texture melting in my mouth is making me crave it more.
This will be a great dish to enjoy with yummy French onion soup. So, don’t hesitate to make this yummy Chicken Pesto Panini and enjoy your fine dining.
2.7. Arugula Salad
This is a very simple salad that is very easy to make. It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients, and it pairs very well with French onion soup. All you need for this light salad is fresh Arugula, with some grated carrots, Parmesan Cheese, and juicy tomatoes.
For simple dressing, just use some olive oil, salt, pepper, and sesame seeds. Then, your healthy, nutritious salad is ready to be eaten.
Enjoy this healthy Salad with cheesy and meaty delicious soup. This is going to be a balanced meal with a lot of flavours. So, don’t worry about anything, enjoy it and fill your stomach.
2.8. Roasted Vegetables
Another healthy dish to have on the table is roasted vegetables. These crispy, soft, and tender veggies are also great with French onion soup.
These colourful vegetables will enhance the taste of your soup, and you can also stay healthy. You can take any vegetable of your choice, and there is no limit. For a basic idea, you can take veggies like sweet potato, beets, carrots, sprouts, cauliflower, beans, bell peppers, and asparagus.
Just imagine the vibrancy that will show on the plate. In addition to these veggies, you must also add tomatoes and onions. Roast all these veggies nicely with the help of extra virgin olive oil.
Furthermore, season or garnish it with chilli powder, cheese, garlic powder, lemon or orange juice, honey for a slight touch of sweetness, and vinegar. That’s it; now your healthy and yummy dish is ready, and even your children are going to love it.
So, enjoy these tasty, crispy vegetables and creamy French onion soup with your family.
Nutritionist’s Guide: Healthy Side Dishes to Perfectly Complement French Onion Soup
Krutika Nanavati, a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist practising in New Zealand and a medical advisor at Clinicspots for Diet and Nutrition, urges considering healthy side dishes to complement French onion soup:
“As a nutritionist, I [am often] asked about healthy options to complement various dishes. One such dish that has gained popularity is French onion soup.
This rich and flavorful soup has been enjoyed for centuries, with its origins tracing back to ancient Rome. Made from caramelized onions, beef broth, and toasted bread topped with melted cheese, it is undoubtedly a comfort meal that warms the soul.
However, as delicious as it may be, French onion soup can also be high in calories and fat. Therefore, it is essential to balance out its nutritional value by serving it with healthy side dishes.
Here are some recommended options that enhance the taste of this classic soup and provide added health benefits.
- Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Grilled vegetable skewers are among my top recommendations for [a healthy] side dish [to] pair with French onion soup. These skewers are packed with nutrients and come in various bright colours.
They are made with various vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, and onions, all rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Mixed Green Salad
Another great option to balance out the richness of French onion soup is a mixed green salad. This refreshing and light side dish provides a good dose of fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
You can add some fruits like apples or pears for added natural sweetness and nuts or seeds for healthy fats.
- Quinoa Pilaf
For those looking for a more filling side dish, quinoa pilaf is a perfect choice. Quinoa is a nutrient-dense grain that is high in protein and fibre.
It also contains essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. You can cook it with some vegetables and herbs for added flavour and serve it alongside your French onion soup.
- Whole Wheat Bread
Serve French onion soup with whole wheat bread for a healthier meal. Whole wheat bread has fibre, protein, B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium, while white bread lacks nutrients.
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Lastly, roasted sweet potatoes make for a delicious and nutritious side dish to accompany French onion soup. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, fibre, and vitamins A and C.
They also add a [touch of] sweetness that pairs well with the savoury flavours of the soup.”
2.9. Bread and Butter Pickles
Suppose you don’t want to cook any extra dish in the cold winter. Then, prepare these Bread and butter pickles before the winter season arrives. Don’t worry; it is going to fill your tastebuds with a lot of different flavours.
To make these pickles, you will need cucumbers, onions, garlic cloves, and green bell peppers, in addition to salt, sugar, mustard seed, vinegar, and ground turmeric. This pickle is full of flavours and is somewhat sweet, salty, tangy, and sour.
The flavours balance each other, and there is no overpowering flavor. You can enjoy these pickles with your French onion soup in winter and get a lot of flavours.
2.10. Dark Chocolate Cake
Why not talk about dessert now? The rich, chocolaty flavour will taste good with a salty French onion soup. You can have this chocolate cake after having French onion soup, or you can also enjoy it side by side.
Chocolate cakes are awesome, and just imagine the feeling you will get when you eat this tasty cake with French onion soup. Hmmm, it sounds unique, and it’s also going to be an awesome pair to taste.
2.11. Apple Pie Cookies
Enjoy your cold winter evenings with these crunchy and sweet Apple pie cookies. These cookies are also going to pair well with French onion soup.
You can prepare these cookies at your own home and preserve them for several days. For the ingredients, you will need pie dough, butter, heavy cream, cornstarch, apples, apple juice or cider, lemon juice, and sugar.
Heavy cream, sugar, and cardamom are used to drizzle over the cookies. Make sure to enjoy this unique and yummy duo together this winter.
2.12. Tilapia
Yes, French onion soup also tastes delicious, along with any seafood. Bake this seafood for about 15 minutes and put butter and lemon slices over it. It’s going to taste amazing with warm and heartwarming French onion soup.
Season it with chilli powder and black pepper, and serve it with your warm and delicious French onion soup. This side dish is very easy to make, and you are going to have both tasty dishes on your table.
So, enjoy this delicious meal together and get lost in its flavours and smoothness.
2.13. Croque Monsieur
This is another side dish from France. It’s a cheese and ham sandwich with tasty seasoning. This is a great dish to serve with French Onion Soup.
This sandwich is very easy to make and requires very little ingredients. It’s very popular in France, and they usually have it with French Onion Soup or Green Salad.
Firstly, spread some white sauce over each slice of bread, add ham and cheese over a slice of bread, and cover with another slice. The side of the bread where you have spread the white sauce should face up.
Now, sprinkle some fresh parsley and mozzarella cheese over it and bake it. Toast it nicely, and when the cheese melts, you can take it out. You can season it more with black pepper and parsley and enjoy.
This is going to be a wholesome sandwich to have with French onion soup, and you are going to love it. Both of these dishes will give you that cheesy and meaty flavour in addition to other flavours as well.
2.14. Mushroom Risotto
If you are feeling very hungry and want a satisfying meal to accompany your French onion soup, then Mushroom Risotto should be your choice.
Keeping the stomach-filling point aside, this dish will be very satisfying with varieties of flavours. Risotto made of arborio rice is already popular and yummy, but when mushrooms are added, the yumminess doubles.
You can enjoy this delicious meal with creamy French onion soup. Indulge in this duo of savoury dishes and comfort yourself this coming winter.
2.15. Salmon
Salmon is very healthy and delicious on its own. But it also tastes awesome if you pair it with something like French onion soup. The best thing about this dish is that it’s very easy to make.
For this dish, you need salmon fillets, olive oil, salt, garlic, black pepper, lemon, and some fresh herbs. Take the salmon fillets and season them with salt and pepper properly, add olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs and mix.
Now, bake the salmon for a few minutes until it gets flaky and when it’s done. Garnish it with thymes and parsley. Now, you can serve it with your hot French onion soup.
Enjoy this delicious duo this coming winter and get the feel of yummy flavour.
Gourmet Pairings: Unexpected Delights to Elevate Your French Onion Soup Experience
Ruiz Asri, CKO and Editor of Honest Food Talks, suggests lesser-known ingredients to elevate your French onion soup taste:
French onion soup, a timeless classic, is known for its rich broth and savoury depth. While traditional accompaniments are well-loved, I’ve found a few pairings that might surprise you with how they pair well with it.
- Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad: This might seem like an unusual companion for French onion soup, but the sweetness of grilled peaches beautifully contrasts the soup’s savoury notes, and the creaminess of the burrata adds a great texture.
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos: Spicy Shrimp Tacos offer a great pairing to the soup’s richness and [also] add a little spice to the mix.
The zestiness of the tacos and the spicy shrimp gives a flavorful contrast that’s surprisingly delightful.
- Crispy Polenta Fries: Swap traditional bread or croutons with crispy polenta fries. Their golden, crunchy exterior and soft, creamy interior make them a great pairing to the soup.
The subtle corn flavour of polenta provides a unique contrast to the soup’s intensity.
3. Final Note
Overall, there are a variety of options to serve with French onion soup. These cozy and heartwarming dishes will work great together. You can pair this warm soup with anything you like and balance the flavors of the meal properly.
This French onion soup indeed tastes delicious on it’s own, but you can enhance its taste more by preparing some side dishes to eat with it. With some extra ingredients, effort, and time, you will get an awesome pair.
So, now decide on what you would like to cook and enjoy, for those who didn’t have any idea of what to eat with French onion soup. We hope we were able to help you with some ideas for yummy side dishes.
In conclusion, French onion soup is very healthy, creamy, and rich in flavour. So, if you make any dish as its side, then you are going to have a delicious and hearty meal. Don’t hesitate and just go for it.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Arnab