APPLEBEE'S BAKED FRENCH ONION SOUP

Applebee's Baked French Onion Soup

Menu Description:

Caramelized onion and garlic in a hearty roasted beef stock with sweet sherry wine. Topped with melted cheese and a crouton.

Soup

3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

6 Medium white onions, sliced

8 Cups beef broth

1 Cup water

2-1/2 Teaspoons salt

1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 Teaspoon ground black pepper

Crouton and Topping:

5 plain hamburger buns

10 Slices provolone cheese

10 Teaspoons shredded parmesan cheese.

Soup:

Add 3 tablespoons oil to a large soup pot or saucepan over medium/high heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté for 20 minutes or until the onions begin to soften and start to become translucent. Be careful not to brown the onion slices. Add the beef broth, water, salt, garlic powder and black pepper to the pan and bring mixture to a boil. When soup begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

Croutons:

Cut off the top half of each top of the hamburger bun so that the bread is the same thickness as the bottom half of each bun. Throw the cut off tops away. This will leave you with 10 round pieces of bread. The 5 bottom buns, and 5 top buns with the tops cut off.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place the bread in the the oven directly on the rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until each piece is golden brown and crispy. Set these croutons aside until you need them.
When the soup is done, spoon about 1 cup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a crouton on top of the soup, then place a slice of provolone cheese on top of the crouton. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the provolone. Place the ovensafe bowl under the broiler set to high. Broil the soup for 3 to 4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to bubble. Sprinkle an additional 1/2 teaspoon of shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the soup and serve.
Servings: 10