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French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup Recipe

4.5 from 80 reviews

A rich and hearty French Onion Beef Short Rib Soup that combines tender, slow-cooked beef short ribs with caramelized onions in a savory beef broth, topped with melted cheese for a comforting and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 2 pounds beef short ribs

Vegetables

  • 4 large onions, thinly sliced

Liquids

  • 8 cups beef broth

Toppings

  • 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère cheese or Swiss cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Short Ribs: Place the beef short ribs in a large pot and add the beef broth to cover them. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  2. Simmer the Ribs: Cook the ribs gently in the broth until they are tender and beginning to fall apart, about 2 to 3 hours. Occasionally skim off any foam or fat from the surface.
  3. Caramelize the Onions: While the ribs cook, in a separate pan, sauté the sliced onions over medium-low heat with a bit of oil or butter, stirring often, until they become deeply golden and caramelized. This process can take about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  4. Combine the Ingredients: Once the ribs are tender, remove them from the broth, shred the meat, and discard bones. Return the shredded meat to the broth along with the caramelized onions. Stir to combine and heat through.
  5. Serve with Cheese: Ladle the hot soup into bowls, top each serving with a generous amount of grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese, and serve immediately while the cheese melts into the soup.

Notes

  • For added depth, deglaze the onion pan with a splash of dry white wine before mixing onions into the soup.
  • Skim excess fat from the broth for a leaner soup.
  • Using bone-in short ribs adds richness to the broth.
  • The soup pairs wonderfully with crusty bread for dipping.
  • Gruyère cheese is traditional, but Swiss or Emmental also work well.

Keywords: French onion soup, beef short ribs, caramelized onions, hearty soup, comfort food