85 Calorie French Onion Soup
French onion soup usually means butter and a thick layer of melted cheese. This one gets its deep, sweet flavor from onions cooked slowly in a little water, so a bowl comes to about 85 calories. It’s a rich, savory option when you’re losing weight and still want something that tastes like the real thing.
Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and brands.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 85 calories and 3 grams of fiber per bowl
- No butter or oil, the onions caramelize in a splash of water
- Only 4 main ingredients and one pot
- Rich, slightly sweet flavor with no cheese or bread needed
Ingredients
- 3 large yellow onions (about 650 g), thinly sliced
- 4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 to 4 tablespoons water, for cooking the onions
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
How to Make It
- Heat a large nonstick pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, until they start to soften.
- Add 2 tablespoons of water. Keep cooking and stirring, adding another tablespoon of water whenever the onions start to stick, until they turn deep golden brown. This takes 25 to 30 minutes in total.
- Stir in the balsamic vinegar and thyme. Cook for 1 minute, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pot.
- Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Taste, then season with salt and pepper. Ladle into 4 bowls and serve hot.
Lose weight. Keep the pizza.
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See What’s Inside →Illustrative image. Individual results may vary.
Tips & Substitutions
Slice the onions thin. Thin slices cook down faster and brown more evenly. A mandoline makes it quick.
Pick your broth. Beef broth gives the deepest flavor, but vegetable broth works too. Choose low sodium and taste before adding salt.
Add a little umami. ½ teaspoon of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce stirred in with the broth adds depth for almost no calories.
Want cheese? 1 tablespoon of shredded part-skim mozzarella on top adds about 20 calories per bowl.
How to Make It More Filling
A big green salad with a light dressing makes this a full meal. A slice of whole grain toast adds about 75 calories, which brings the bowl to about 160. Grilled chicken breast or baked white fish also goes well after it.
Storage
Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat it on the stove over medium heat, stirring now and then, until hot.
The soup also freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip caramelizing the onions?
Not really. Caramelizing is where the sweet, deep flavor comes from, and without it the soup tastes thin. It takes about 30 minutes, mostly stirring.
What if my onions start to burn?
Turn the heat down a little and add a tablespoon of water. Stir well to loosen anything stuck to the pot.
Can I use red onions instead of yellow?
Yes, but yellow onions are sweeter and caramelize better. Red onions give a sharper, less sweet soup.
How can I make this soup thicker?
Simmer it uncovered for 10 more minutes, or blend 1 cup of the soup and stir it back in. Neither adds calories.
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See What’s Inside →Illustrative image. Individual results may vary.
