• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MsMarmiteLover

  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
  • Travel
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • UK
  • Wine
  • Gardens
  • Supperclubs
  • About
    • Press
    • Books
  • Shop
    • Cart

Recipe: Marmite French Onion Soup

March 7, 2013 15 Comments Filed Under: Food, Recipes, Uncategorized

It seems like Spring has started, finally, but nights are still chilly. May I suggest French onion soup? I recently had one at Brasserie Zedel, an enormous gorgeous French-style brasserie near Piccadilly Circus where I managed to have a tasty three course meal for £10.50p. The Maitre d’ didn’t want to let me in for some reason “you can go upstairs and have a cake” he sniffed dismissively, but it was bitterly cold outside and I needed French onion soup dammit. I gazed upon an almost empty restaurant, with a live piano player tinkling in the background reading music from an iPad. “May I see the menu?” I asked him. Reluctantly, from underneath his desk, he pulled out a large sheet of card, all in French. I then proceeded to trill, airily, in fluent French, about what I felt like eating, snapped the menu shut and confronted him with a steely-toned arch-eyebrowed“So you won’t allow me to eat here?” 
He smiled tightly through gritted teeth and said “Of course Madam, but I’ll need the table back by 6″.
It was 4.30pm.
Maybe he was tired. The rest of the waiting staff were lovely. They gave me an English menu. I think the French one is kept at the front to put people off. So almost a decade living in France and consecutively shagging approximately four French boyfriends over a number of years were well worth it after all.
At home, my Riverford Organic box delivery had left me with a full basket of onions, built up week by week. Once I’d fished out and chucked all the soft ones at the bottom, plenty remained.
Do not listen to those that suggest French onion soup only authentic with a beef stock. That is complete couilles. A spoonful of Marmite, (appropriately the word ‘marmite’ in French, means a pot-bellied casserole dish) plenty of white wine and softly cooked good quality onions is all that you need. In fact it’s so rich that it’s an entire meal in a bowl: soup, bread, cheese.
Enough for 6-8

1.5 kilos of good brown onions, sliced thinly, into rounds or half rounds
Olive oil to cover the bottom of your pot
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large tablespoon of Marmite
3 fresh bay leaves
1 bottle white wine
1 litre of vegetable stock
1 loaf of French baguette or French pain de campagne or sourdough bread
300g of Cheddar, Gruyere or Emmental cheese, grated
1 tablespoon of freshly ground pepper or a sprinkle of pickled green peppercorns

Simmer the onions until soft in the pan containing olive oil. Add the garlic, Marmite and bay leaves.
Add the white wine, let the onions soak it up.
Then add the vegetable stock.
Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve into oven proof bowls, ceramic or enamel.
Add 2 slices of bread to each bowl and scatter the grated cheese all over the bread, overlapping until it cover the bowl.
Put under the grill for 10 minutes. (Aga instructions, leave on the top shelf of your hottest oven for 15 minutes)
Grind on the pepper. Serve with a green salad and a good bottle of red (this soup is rich enough for red) or white wine.

Recent posts

How to make Easter eggs

April 4, 2021

Learning with experts - baking course online pic: Kerstin rodgers/msmarmitelover.com

Online cooking courses: ‘Learning with experts’

March 11, 2021

latua pasta meal kit pic:Kerstin Rodgers/msmarmitelover

How hospitality has pivoted to survive the Covid lockdown: meal kits, zoom tastings and a delivery supper club

March 5, 2021

Previous Post: « Breakfast with Malcolm Eggs and recipe for Portuguese custard tarts
Next Post: How to make tofu from soy beans Part 1 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debs Dust Bunny

    March 7, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Brilliant recipe, great story! Thanks for kicking that snooty maitre d' into shape. I love it when we 'little women' kick ass. : )

    Reply
  2. The Little Dinner Lady

    March 7, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    Awesome Frenchie-Anglo combo, I will definitely try this as I never have good beef stock lying around and am reluctant to pay good money for the stuff you buy in pouches!There is always, however, marmite in my house!

    Reply
  3. Hal

    March 7, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    Onion soup, mmmmmm love it. I find it works with chicken stock too. Hadn't thought of marmite, thanks for the tip.

    Reply
  4. Mark Willis

    March 8, 2013 at 7:48 am

    One of the best "French" onion soups I ever had was in Germany, and it had lots of thyme in it.
    Why is it that some restaurants turn away business even when they are not busy?? Do they expect all diners to come along in parties of 8 and spend hundreds of pounds? Don't they realise that THEY are there to serve US, and not the other way round?

    Reply
  5. Gill Watson

    March 8, 2013 at 9:40 am

    My last blog post reviewed Zedel's and we too had the same, "You must be out by 6pm" malarky. Their website states that they always keep a goodly number of tables for walk-ins so we took this ruling with a pinch of salt. We outstayed our welcome by an hour and a half and no-one seemed to notice. Then the next day we did a walk-in for oysters and they were all hearty welcomes. But again the restaurant was quiet. I reckon there's an accountant making table turning rules as it is incredibly cheap for the location, beauty and quality of food. Fabulous that you flummoxed them with your French!

    I have the flu this week and am living on Marmite on toast so may adventure into your soup at the weekend.

    Reply
  6. Kerstin Rodgers

    March 9, 2013 at 12:55 am

    Mark willis: I don't know why he was like that. As I was on my own I was out in 45 mins so yeah I didn't spend a lot but bums on seats is always good.

    Reply
  7. Kerstin Rodgers

    March 9, 2013 at 12:56 am

    Gill: it took a lot of insisting so not sure what the policy is here.
    Hope you feel better soon 🙁

    Reply
  8. Kerstin Rodgers

    March 9, 2013 at 12:57 am

    Debs and dinner lady:
    Little ass kickers we certainly are.

    Reply
  9. Kerstin Rodgers

    March 9, 2013 at 12:58 am

    Hal : this is rich enough without beef stock!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous

    March 12, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    Wonderful recipe, and very well suited to kitchen renovation work currently being undertaken. Not a lot of fussing about, which is what I need right now.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous

    May 10, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    Great recipie I love onion soup …. so comforting.. and I love marmite. So really looking forward to trying this. Especially appreciate that it is suitable for my vegetarian diet. Will definetly share this with my Canadian friends who like I were raised on marmite when growing up in England. Thanks. Virginia

    Reply
  12. Unknown

    March 19, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    Will try this recipe next time I make soup at the Public School I work at Marmite sounds a good addition.Thanks

    Reply
    • Kerstin Rodgers aka MsMarmiteLover

      March 20, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      It's an oldie but goodie

      Reply
  13. Nic M

    March 19, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    IMO shagging French men is infinitely preferable to actually having a relationship with them. Or at least the ones I dealt with. Maybe I just had bad taste in French men?

    Reply
    • Kerstin Rodgers aka MsMarmiteLover

      March 20, 2017 at 12:48 pm

      Yes French men are good for affairs not marriage.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

Subscribe to my mailing list

msmarmitelover

Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Last night toasting marshmallows over a bonfire as Last night toasting marshmallows over a bonfire as snow fell, a special kind of flinty glinting snow. A trident of marshmallow, Easter in London.  #outsidedining #bonfire #easter #toastingmarshmallowsbythefire #snow #inmygarden #londongarden
Pistachio cream filled mini eggs. I made my own Ea Pistachio cream filled mini eggs. I made my own Easter eggs this year. You need moulds-a lint free cloth to polish them- some good quality chocolate like @guittardchocolate - a pastry brush. Melt the chocolate drops over a bainmarie or 30 seconds in the microwave. Brush the chocolate into the moulds trying not to go over the edge and put the mould in the fridge. Once hardened and chilled, use a teaspoon to drop in the pistachio cream. Return to fridge. Warm up a baking tray in the oven. Then take the mini eggs put of the fridge and pop them out of the moulds. Place the flat side on the warm baking tray then press the two halves together. #easter #pacques #minieggs #eastereggs #chocolate #chocolaterecipe #easterrecipe #makeyourowneastereggs #supperclub #msmarmitelover #easter2021 #easterbasket #easterchocolateeggs
Ok this is super simple. A tomato & sweetcorn sala Ok this is super simple. A tomato & sweetcorn salad. Always have tons of sweet corn in your house because they make an instant salad. You can combine it with cucumber, tomato, halloumi, feta, herbs, peaches, and obviously tuna. I dressed this with lime and olive oil, but you could use a mustard vinaigrette or mayonnaise.  #simplefood #saladideas #sweetcorn #tinnedfood #lockdownlarder #covidpantry #summerfood #supperclub #thejoyoftins #Msmarmitelover
Potato and rosemary pizza with tomato & parsley sa Potato and rosemary pizza with tomato & parsley salad. Potato pizza sounds strange, after all you are double carbing. But it works. Thin soft slices of potato ( cut on a mandolin, soaked in water, then carefully dried on a tea towel) layered over day old pizza dough. ( leaving your dough a day or several just makes it deeper flavoured). A few sprigs of flowering rosemary from the garden too. I used @pomoragoodfood flavoured olive oils: the rosemary on the pizza, and garlic flavour in the salad. I also love the lemon flavour. #sundaylunch #homemadepizza #potatopizza #doublecarb #salad #simplefood #supperclub
My daughters 27th birthday today. Her cake didn’ My daughters 27th birthday today. Her cake didn’t arrive this morning so quickly knocked up a 3 tier chocolate cake with blueberry buttercream & mint, rose & violet pieces. Also made my first hand tied bouquet from yellow roses, garden daffodils, rosemary in flower & palm fronds. She’s moving flat today so it’s not been too much of a celebration so far 🎉🍾🥂#chocolatecake #birthdaycake #flowers #floristry #bouquet #spring #27 #darlingdaughter #birthday #supperclubchef
Broccoli & mushroom donburi rice bowls for lunch. Broccoli & mushroom donburi rice bowls for lunch. Ready in 10 minutes. Steam rice, chop veg, fry, add teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds & spring onion. #bubblelunch #supperclub #vegan #vegetarian #healthyeating #japanese #donburi #donburibowl
Cheese box feast with wines, biscuits, my persimmo Cheese box feast with wines, biscuits, my persimmon fruit cheese (aged 2 years), my whole meal walnut & cherry loaf. From @thecheeseclubuk #cheesefeast #britishcheeses #bread #wines #sundaylunch #supperclub #picnic
Sometimes for dinner or lunch all I do is shove a Sometimes for dinner or lunch all I do is shove a load of vegetables on a roasting tin, toss them in olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh herbs (woody ones like rosemary) and roast. I cut the potatoes up fairly small so they all take the same amount of time. I cook on an aga which is a weighty cast iron oven where you are supposed to cook 80% of your good in the oven, and 20% on top, so this is an easy option- no preheating necessary because an aga is on all the time. Here I have aubergine, carrots, butternut squash & potatoes 🥔 . I have loads of roast veg ideas in my book V is for vegan. #vegan #vegetarian #roasting #easymeals #supperclub #aga #ovenroasted #visforvegan #msmarmitelover #londonchef
I was sent this incredible box of cheeses from @th I was sent this incredible box of cheeses from @thecheeseclubuk 7 cheeses including sheep rustler, blue Cheshire, Elric log, rachel, sparkenhoe Red Leicester, keens cheddar, Ayrshire Dunlop, 3 pots of piccalilli, chutney, onion jam. Crackers, biscuits. And a bottle of moscato d’asti. Really impressed. This will be a spring feast. £50 and you get a different seasonal on each month. They say it’s for two people but I’d say 4. A nice birthday gift. #cheese #britishcheese #cheesehamper #cheeseclub #cheesesofinstagram #hamper #gift #springsurprise #mealkits #cheeseandcrackers #wineandcheese
Aubergine rendang curry for lunch, an Indonesian d Aubergine rendang curry for lunch, an Indonesian dish. #bubblelunch #covidcuisine #usingupfood #dailylunch #supperclub #curry #rendang #vegan
Moqueca stew with butternut squash & jackfruit. Ma Moqueca stew with butternut squash & jackfruit. Many Brazilian dishes are African influenced & this is no exception, deriving from an Angolan stew. Usually it is with seafood, but this is a vegan version. I used palm oil which is also very Brazilian/Angolan. It’s red because of the high levels of beta-carotene. There are environmental issues around the use of palm oil- rainforest is cut down to access it. Like coconut oil it is solid when cool and liquid when heated. I spent a few months in the sertao region of Brazil & read the magical realism fiction of Jorge Amado . One of his novels: Dona Flor and her two husbands, contains recipes. She bewitched her husbands with her Brazilian cooking. #bubblelunch #brazilianfood #sertão #moqueca #vegan #stew #angolanfood #lockdownlarder #supperclub #covidcuisine #msmarmitelover #food #homecooked
Steamed griddled Savoy cabbage wedges with butter, Steamed griddled Savoy cabbage wedges with butter, poppy seed, citrus dressing. I used to hate cruciferous sulphuric vegetables like cabbage & Brussels sprouts but now I’m addicted. In other news after 8 weeks my air boot is off (from my broken ankle) but I seem to have forgotten how to walk. Really bizarre. I’m still shuffling & limping. Will I get better?  Bowl by @homesense.  #bubblelunch #covidcuisine #supperclub #vegetarian #recipe #cabbage #cruciferousvegetables #inulin #fibre #everythingtastesbetterwithbutter
Stuffed savoury persimmons. You can pretty much st Stuffed savoury persimmons. You can pretty much stuff anything: peppers, courgettes, aubergines, squash, potatoes skins, bananas, tomatoes. With enamel spoon and bowl. Cut the little hats off, set aside. Then stuff the veg with cooked rice, or freekeh or couscous or bulghur wheat, mix with finely chopped preserved lemon, some nuts or seeds, a fresh herb of your choice. Add a little olive oil & seasoning. Put the hats back on. Bake for 30 minutes.  #supperclub #stuffedvegetables #vegetarian #recipe #motheringsunday2021 #lockdown2021 #covidcuisine #enamelware
Yesterday I made tacos with refried black beans, h Yesterday I made tacos with refried black beans, halloumi, sour cream, Mayo with chipotle, guacamole, cucumbers & lettuce. It was the second half of a @hellofreshuk meal kit and I bumped it up with fridge foraging. You see that b & w round fabric pouch? This is a tortilla warmer. One of my best buys ever. It keeps them soft & warm, using the trapped heat to steam the tortillas. I bought this in New Mexico but I imagine you can get them online here. #mexicanfood #tacos #blackbeans #leftovers #lockdownlarder #bubblelunch #refriedbeans #supperclub #mealkit #fridgeforaging #msmarmitelover #tortillawarmer
Nothing like homemade freshly fried falafel. I’m Nothing like homemade freshly fried falafel. I’m doing the Syrian version: 50% chickpea and 50% fuul Mesdames( peeled) & plenty of sesame seeds. This makes them soft & fluffy on the inside. Served with made from scratch hummus, cucumber salad & home baked bread. #lunchbubble #falafel #syrianfood #foulmesdames #pulses #fromscratch #fromscratchcooking #supperclub #lockdownlunch #covidcuisine
Been baking up a storm over the last couple of wee Been baking up a storm over the last couple of weeks. I did a @learningwithexperts baking course taught by @richardbertinet I now have baskets of focaccia, olive & sundried tomato breadsticks, sesame plaits, poppy seed stars, pizza bases, walnut & sour cherry loaves. I’ve practised my white dough, pain de mine, olive dough & brown dough. Basic courses from £35. It’s a good moment to revise basics & enhance your skills during lockdown. Enjoyable & motivating. #onlineclasses #onlinelearning #onlinebaking #covidlearningexperiences #bakersofinstagram #msmarmitelover #breadmaking #breadbaking #breadlover #breadporn
Egg fried rice and steamed broccoli with sesame dr Egg fried rice and steamed broccoli with sesame dressing. Bubble lunch. #lunch #vegetarian #lockdownlunch #asianvegetarian #supperclub #pantrycooking #lockdownlarder
Today’s lunch: cauliflower & chickpea curry with Today’s lunch: cauliflower & chickpea curry with rice & carrot chaat salad. My bubble are here everyday working on their computers & I provide an ‘office’ lunch #vegetarian #vegan #5aday #supperclub #lockdownlife #covidpantry #curry #cauliflower #chickpeas #chaat
Today’s lunch was mushroom, garlic, cheddar filo Today’s lunch was mushroom, garlic, cheddar filo pie with poppy seeds. Warm Roast peppers with preserved lemon 🍋 & pistachio nibs. #lockdownlarder #pantry #supperclub #covidlunch #vegetarian #quick&tasty #filopie #warmsalad #internetcafe
My bubble brought some fresh clams over today & I My bubble brought some fresh clams over today & I made spaghetti vongole. Rinse the clams under running cold water, any that are broken or do not close, discard. Chop up shallots or onion, a whole bulb of garlic. Then soften the onion then the garlic in a deep frying pan. Boil the water for the linguine & add a handful of sea salt. Then add a glass of white wine to the onion/garlic, the clams, lots of freshly ground pepper & flat leaf parsley. A couple of minutes off cooking time, drain the linguine & put in the pan with the clams etc. Serve with more parsley, a drizzle of olive oil. #lockdownlife #sundaylunch #spagvong #pasta #spaghettivongole #supperclub #msmarmitelover #londonlockdown #quickdinners
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Copyright © 2021 msmarmitelover