Three words: FRENCH ONION TOAST. And it is absolutely amazing.
Trust me on this one, you really need this French onion toast on your table this fall. I don’t quite know why I didn’t think of it sooner…
I mean, the best part of French onion soup is the top, right?!
This toast is basically a thick, buttery piece of toasted bread topped with a hearty mixture of “french onions” and tons of gruyere cheese. Baked until oozing and golden. And then topped with sage breadcrumbs, because at that point…why not?
This French onion toast is seriously one of the most delicious things to come out of my kitchen in a very long time (okay, this chorizo queso might be a close second). I made it for my family the other night and they all agreed. Such a good one.
Everything kind of just melts in your mouth and makes you want to take bite after bite. The onions soak into the bread as it bakes, giving the toast a true French onion topping feel.
My one tip is to pick out a really good loaf of bread. I like to use a large (meaning it has lots of width to it) loaf of sourdough. It should have a crusty exterior and soft interior. Buy a full, fresh loaf from the store and then slice it yourself. It will be so worth it.
You can then use that same bread to make the breadcrumbs, which are infused with sage and fried until golden. It’s an extra step that may seem odd (bread on bread…), but it gives the toast another layer of buttery crunch.
It’s an easy recipe that makes for the perfect cold weather indulgent treat. I hope you try it and absolutely love it. Enjoy!
PrintFrench Onion Toast
the most indulgent french onion toast with a hearty onion mixture and melted gruyere cheese
yield: 6 large toasts
Ingredients
French Onion Toast
- olive oil, as needed
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 ½ lbs thinly sliced onions
- 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
- kosher salt, as needed
- freshly cracked black pepper, as needed
- 2 tbsp sherry wine
- ½ cup beef stock
- 2 large fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 large, thick slices of fresh sourdough bread
- 3–4 tbsp butter, softened
- 12 oz gruyere cheese, shredded
Sage Breadcrumbs
- 4 oz sourdough bread, torn apart
- 12 sage leaves
- vegetable oil, as needed
Instructions
1. Heat a large heavy-bottom pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Drizzle enough olive oil into the pot just to coat the bottom. Add the butter and let melt.
2. Stir in the sliced onions and shallots. Season with a big pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Let the onions and shallots cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often. Lower the heat to medium-low and let the onions and shallots continue to cook until tender and caramelized, about 1 hour.
3. Raise the heat to medium. Stir in the sherry wine and let cook for 2 minutes. Add the beef stock, fresh thyme, and bay leaf. Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook the mixture until most of the liquid has reduced. The consistency should hold its shape, but still be slightly loose. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Remove the thyme and bay leaves.
4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F. Place the bread on a foil-lined sheet pan. Spread the softened butter generously onto each piece of bread. Toast the bread for 5 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and set the oven to high broil.
5. Evenly distribute the onion mixture onto each slice of toasted bread. Evenly distribute the gruyere cheese on top of the onions. Each piece of bread should be fully covered with cheese.
6. Place the pan into the oven and let the cheese melt and brown, about 2 minutes (watch it closely so it doesn’t burn).
7. Garnish the toast with the sage breadcrumbs and fried sage.
Sage Breadcrumbs
1. Add the bread and 6 of the sage leaves to a food processor. Pulse until the bread resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
2. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add enough oil to come up about a ¼ of an inch in the pan. When the oil is hot, add the remaining 6 sage leaves. Fry for a minute or so until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sage to a plate lined with paper towels.
3. To the same oil, add the breadcrumbs. Continuously stir until the breadcrumbs are golden and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the breadcrumbs to another plate lined with paper towels. Season with a pinch of salt.
