French Onion Soup

DH has requested French Onion soup, but I've never made it. It looks dead easy from the recipes I have seen online. The only problem is, he keeps talking about an egg that floats on the top and I have no idea what he is on about. Has anyone ever heard of this? Also, do you have an amazing recipe for French Onion Soup that you really like? Thanks!

he keeps talking about an egg that floats on the top

W.T.F.!?? Gross!!! Maybe he doesn't realize the 'egg' is actually a large crouton covered in cheese and baked until the cheese is melted and brown. I guess it does kind of look like an egg. I don't have a recipe, but this is a favorite soup of mine that I get when I'm at home!

It's not hard to make - just a bit time consuming and a tiny bit fiddly. But oh, so worth it.  But no.  There's no egg.  That's madness.

He says he had it in Spain, so I guess the egg is some sort of Spanish variation. I think he means there is a poached egg on top of the crouton. But maybe he can just have a cheesy crouton like all us normal people. 

My recommendation is just to buy one of the seasoning packets and go with the recipe on the back there, rather than trying to make it from total scratch. Thats what I do and it always turns out really well.  And ew, of course no egg - silly husband!  Its a piece of bread/crouton toasted and covered in any kind of cheese you like (I use gruyere or even provolone).

However, I did find this reciepe with an egg: http://www.bigoven.com/135338-Onion-Soup-with-Egg-(Acquacotta)-recipe.html

NO EGG!!!

ETA: Maybe he's not completely insane. I found this recipe for French Onion Soup which actually does involve poached eggs. Still, I've never been served FOS with eggs!

x-posted with mirrajay

My recommendation is just to buy one of the seasoning packets and go with the recipe on the back there, rather than trying to make it from total scratch. Thats what I do and it always turns out really well.  And ew, of course no egg - silly husband!  Its a piece of bread/crouton toasted and covered in any kind of cheese you like (I use gruyere or even provolone).

However, I did find this reciepe with an egg: http://www.bigoven.com/135338-Onion-Soup-with-Egg-(Acquacotta)-recipe.html

Bah! That looks so complicated! I don't think so! He can have cheesy toasts. 

I was thinking of Nigel Slater's recipe, but don't know if I have seen Madeira anywhere. What else would you use? Port?

http://www.nigelslater.com/recipes_view.asp?nRecipe_ID=%7BA07A950F-5565-4EF4-82ED-D954E84A67E2%7D&nRecipeCat_ID=%7B60B85C5F-A0D8-4982-9C6C-6D5B7781B6CE%7D&sSrc=

Or there is this one, which is super easy, but almost too basic:

http://aweebitofcooking.co.uk/2008/01/04/french-onion-soup/

Hmmm an egg sounds quite nice with FOS.  

Bah! That looks so complicated! I don't think so! He can have cheesy toasts.  

I was thinking of Nigel Slater's recipe, but don't know if I have seen Madeira anywhere. What else would you use? Port?

http://www.nigelslater.com/recipes_view.asp?nRecipe_ID=%7BA07A950F-5565-4EF4-82ED-D954E84A67E2%7D&nRecipeCat_ID=%7B60B85C5F-A0D8-4982-9C6C-6D5B7781B6CE%7D&sSrc=

Or there is this one, which is super easy, but almost too basic:

http://aweebitofcooking.co.uk/2008/01/04/french-onion-soup/

Go with the basic one.  French onion soup doesn't need to have loads of ingredients to be good.  
I've used cider to give it a kick and most will ask for Worcester sauce.  That's all you need.

Hmmm an egg sounds quite nice with FOS. 

If someone handed me FOS with an egg I would cry.

I was thinking of Nigel Slater's recipe, but don't know if I have seen Madeira anywhere. What else would you use? Port?

You can't go wrong with Nigel! I'd use white wine, personally. It's good enough for Julia Child, so it's good enough for me! Sherry would probably work well, too.

You can't go wrong with Nigel! I'd use white wine, personally. It's good enough for Julia Child, so it's good enough for me! Sherry would probably work well, too.

Sherry might be a good alternative, as more recipes call for it so it would be more likely to be used. Or drank over Christmas. 

Can you just toast the bread with the cheese on it before you put it in the soup? I have a feeling I would seriously burn myself if I put bowls full of hot soup in the oven. I'm too clumsy!

Sherry might be a good alternative, as more recipes call for it so it would be more likely to be used. Or drank over Christmas. 

Can you just toast the bread with the cheese on it before you put it in the soup? I have a feeling I would seriously burn myself if I put bowls full of hot soup in the oven. I'm too clumsy!

Do the cheese bread before hand and then put it in the soup.

Can you just toast the bread with the cheese on it before you put it in the soup? I have a feeling I would seriously burn myself if I put bowls full of hot soup in the oven. I'm too clumsy!

If it were me, I'd put the bowls of soup on a baking tray, then add the bread/cheese and then grill them.

Where'd my post go - grr!

Anyway, I always do the bread separately, and because I'm lazy I sometimes buy a pre done garlic baguette, bake for a bit, separate out into slices, add the Gruyère then grill until the cheese bubbles.

Garlicky, cheesy croutons + FOS = Delicious!