Creamy French Onion Soup Pasta

Ready in under an hour, this hearty pasta dish will warm body and soul on a brisk winter day. The inspiration for this dish comes from the humble yet iconic French onion soup. Once considered food for the poor due to the use of inexpensive ingredients like onions, broth and stale bread, it has since risen to culinary fame thanks to some better cooking techniques and an irresistible crowning layer of bubbly cheese. Serve Creamy French Onion Soup pasta with Hoyne Dark Matter or DiamAndes Perlita Chardonnay.

Ingredients

Serves 4
½ lb (225 g) rigatoni pasta or another large noodle
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsalted butter, divided
2 tbsp (30 ml) grapeseed oil
1 large vidalia onion, diced
1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp (15 ml) all-purpose flour
½ cup (125 ml) beef broth
½ cup (125 ml) white wine
2 tsp (10 ml) Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp (2.5 ml) fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
¼ cup (60 ml) panko bread crumbs
4 oz (110 g) Gruyère, grated, plus more for garnish

Instructions

  1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, saving 1 cup (250 ml) pasta cooking water.
  2. Meanwhile, in a sauté pan over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp (30 ml) butter and oil. Add onions and salt and cook, stirring often, until onions have softened and are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Stir in garlic and flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and, stirring often, continue to cook for another 2 minutes to cook off flour flavour. Stir in broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Cook, stirring, for another 2 to 3 minutes, until sauce is thickened.
  3. In a frying pan over medium heat, melt remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) butter. Add bread crumbs and toss and stir until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Add cooked pasta and grated cheese to sauté pan with sauce and toss to combine.
  5. Divide pasta among 4 serving bowls and garnish with toasted bread crumbs, more grated cheese and thyme leaves, if desired. Enjoy while warm.
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