Recipe: Flu-Fighting Onion Soup

Easy, elegant and richly fragrant, this onion soup recipe is loaded with flu-fighting quercetin.

Serves four.

4 large onions, thinly sliced
2 T. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 c. reduced-sodium, low-fat beef broth
1 bay leaf
¼ tsp. thyme
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
¼ c. dry white wine (optional)
4 slices of French bread, toasted
2 oz. Swiss Gruyere cheese, grated or sliced

• Peel the onions, cut in half length-wise, and thinly slice.
• In a large saucepan or soup pot, over a medium flame, heat the olive oil. Add the onions and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized, reduced and brown, but not burnt.
• Add the garlic and sauté about one minute.
• Add the beef broth, wine (if using), bay leaf and thyme. Cover partially and simmer about 30 minutes. Season to taste with pepper, and salt, if needed.
• Ladle soup into individual oven-proof soup bowls. To each, add a slice of toasted French bread and a slice of cheese.
• Put under the broiler until cheese bubbles and is slightly brown. Serve immediately.

NOTE: Red onions work fine in this recipe, and contain more quercetin than yellow onions.

Nutritional Information per Serving: 267 calories, 10.3 g protein, 26.6 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat (1.2 g saturated), 9 g cholesterol, 2.4 fiber, 300 sodium.

Tags: onions, quercetin, soups