French Onion Soup from Leftover Corned Beef Broth

attosa
Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts

A pan of French onion soup. One more reason to love St. Patrick's Day! The leftover broth from boiling that giant corned beef. I always freak out when people pour it down the drain because I love to make soup. It has so much flavour from hours of stewing, you don't need to add too much to it to make it a flavourful second-hand meal. This is my recipe for turning the leftover broth to a delicious French onion soup.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

3 large onions, sliced
2 Tbsp oil
1 tsp sugar
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup water or white wine
4 cups leftover corned beef broth
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried thyme
French bread or any bread you like
1/2 cup Swiss or Gruyere cheese

Steps:

Slice the onions relatively thin. In a large pot, heat one tablespoon of oil on medium heat. Add the onions and toss to coat with the oil. Cook the onions, stirring often. It will take about 15 minutes to soften.

Increase the heat to medium high. Add the remaining one tablespoon of oil and the butter. Cook for another 15 minutes stirring often.

adding butter to onions for French onion soup.

Sprinkle with sugar to help with the caramelization process. Cook until well browned, about 10 more minutes.

adding sugar to onions for French onion soup.

Mince the clove of garlic and add to the onions. Cook one minute. Pour in 1/4 cup of water or white wine to deglaze the pot, picking up all the fond (brown bits) from the bottom of your pot.

caramelized onions for French onion soup.

Add the broth, the bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil, simmer, and the cover pot. Cook for about 30 minutes.

adding bayleaf to broth for French onion soup.

lid on pan of simmering broth for French onion soup.

Remove bay leaf and sprinkle with pepper. Transfer soup to oven-proof bowls or casserole dish.

pouring soup in pan for oven for French onion soup.

Cover soup with the bread slices.

adding bread sliced to broth in pan for French onion soup.

Top bread slices with cheese. Put dish into the broiler for 10 minutes at 350° F until the cheese bubbles and is slightly browned.

cheese slices on bread in pan for French onion soup.

cooked French Onion Soup from Leftover Corned Beef Broth for French onion soup.

Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!

Cindy Sparks A.

January 12, 20191 found this helpful

Hi! The recipe looks great, but I'm wondering how much butter to use.

vwluke

March 26, 20230 found this helpful

I used another tablespoon and it worked well.

katiekatvip

April 19, 20191 found this helpful

This recipe was excellent! A new favorite. Im kicking myself for dumping corned beef broth for years. Never again. Thank you!

suz1230
Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 451 Feedbacks

April 19, 20191 found this helpful

Hi Attosa,

I am just now seeing your French Onion soup, and I really like how you've used the broth from your corned beef. I'm guilty too of always throwing out this particular broth when I just cook a corned beef by itself. Now I'll freeze it for use.

Thank you for this suggestion! :)

suz1230
Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 451 Feedbacks

April 19, 20191 found this helpful

Attosa, I forgot to say in my last post, your finished soup with the melted cheese on the bread, looks beautiful and wonderfully delicious.

elziard

May 5, 20200 found this helpful

Excellent recipe. Used strained broth from instant pot corned beef, Swiss cheese and some sourdough. Onions and broth were fantastic. Thanks!

kl417g

March 21, 20210 found this helpful

How much butter do you add?

country.traditions1

March 29, 20210 found this helpful

I too am wondering how much butter to use?

Jess
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts

March 29, 20210 found this helpful

I would start with 2 Tbsp. of butter and see how it goes. You can always add in a little bit more. Since you are using a combination of oil and butter, the amount shouldn't be too important, as long as it isn't too oily or dry.

annierumple

March 20, 20220 found this helpful

Absolutely amazing! I can't wait to make it again! So delicious and pretty easy to make. The broth from the corned beef made it along with the beef broth I also added.

Extra garlic and a midge more thyme!

Jess
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 267 Posts

March 21, 20220 found this helpful

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm glad it turned out great for you.

Anonymous

March 19, 20230 found this helpful

After making my corned beef for St. Patricks Day, I just couldnt throw out the broth. Saved it and found this recipe! So delicious and will make it following St Patricks day with Reuben sandwiches. It wasnt very soupy so may add more broth or not coke it as long. But it was delicious.

Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!