French Onion Short Rib Soup with Cheesy Gruyère Toast

“A luxurious twist on the classic French onion soup, infused with rich short rib flavor and topped with cheesy, golden Gruyère toast.”

INGREDIENTS:

For the Short Ribs and Broth:

2 pounds bone-in short ribs

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, quartered

2 carrots, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

6 cups beef broth

2 cups water

3 cloves garlic, smashed

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 bay leaves

Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the French Onion Base:

4 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (optional, for depth of flavor)

2 cups reserved short rib broth

For the Cheesy Gruyère Toast:

4–6 slices of baguette, cut 1-inch thick

1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Prepare the Short Ribs and Broth

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season the short ribs generously with salt and pepper. Sear the ribs on all sides until browned, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

In the same pot, sauté the quartered onion, carrots, and celery until softened.

Add the seared short ribs back into the pot along with the beef broth, water, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer covered for 2–3 hours, until the short ribs are tender and falling off the bone.

Remove the short ribs and strain the broth. Set aside 2 cups of broth for the soup and shred the short rib meat into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2: Make the French Onion Base

In a large skillet or pot, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat.

Add the sliced onions, sugar, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions caramelize to a deep golden brown, about 30–40 minutes.

Deglaze the pan with the white wine (if using) and cook until the liquid evaporates. Stir in the balsamic vinegar for extra depth.

Step 3: Combine the Soup

Add the caramelized onions to the reserved short rib broth and shredded meat.

Simmer for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld …