Years ago, the origins of French onion soup date back to the middle ages. Interestingly, its modern version emerged in Paris during the 18th century, hence its French name. The classic soup consists of beef broth and caramelized onions, which are often topped with a layer of melted cheese. While this iconic dish is undoubtedly delicious on its own, serving it alongside a tasty side dish can elevate the dining experience to new heights.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of options to choose from, making it easy to find the perfect accompaniment. In fact, we may have too many mouth-watering possibilities at our disposal. In this post, we’re excited to share with you 20 mouth-watering side dishes that pair perfectly with French onion soup. From classic bread and salad combinations to more innovative options, our list has something for everyone.
So, let’s dive in and explore the diverse world of side dishes that complement French onion soup!
1905 Salad
Often sought after by those in search of a complementary side dish to pair with their rich, hearty soups, the 1905 salad is an excellent choice. This light and healthy salad not only provides a refreshing contrast to the bold flavors of the soup but also offers a wealth of green goodness. Its numerous benefits are attributed to its ability to add flavor, fragrance, and nutritional value to the dish, making it an ideal accompaniment.
The tangy lemon, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and vinegar dressing are primarily responsible for providing the zesty flavors that bring balance to the soup. One of the greatest advantages of this recipe is its simplicity and speed, allowing you to whip up a delicious side in no time.
Sour Cream And Chive Baked Potatoes
Keen on elevating your potato game? Why not combine the delightful flavors of sour cream and chives with a delicious baked potato recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite. This side dish is creamy, savory, and remarkably filling, making it an excellent addition to any meal. With just a few simple ingredients like baking potatoes, olive oil, sour cream, chives, and shallots, you’ll be on your way to creating a mouthwatering treat that’s loaded with sweet and savory flavors.
To take it up another notch, we recommend adding some crispy bacon and cheese on top of the sour cream and chive mixture for an extra burst of flavor. Whether you’re serving this as a side or main course, this recipe is sure to impress even the pickiest eaters.
Buttered Noodles
Renowned for its simplicity and indulgent taste, buttered noodles have earned their place on our culinary journey. Rather than relying on complex ingredients, these pasta strips are elevated by a rich and creamy sauce, carefully crafted with fresh fettuccine as the foundation. Rich in butter and garlic, this side dish is seasoned with salt and pepper to bring out its full flavor potential. To add an extra layer of depth, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese completes this Italian-inspired masterpiece.
The best part? It can be prepared in just 20 minutes, making it an ideal accompaniment to your favorite soups or meals.
Chicken Pesto Panini
Sauteed Mushrooms
Generally speaking, sautéed mushrooms are a staple ingredient that pairs well with a multitude of dishes, including French onion soup. One of their defining characteristics is their rich, complex flavor profile, which boasts sweet, meaty, and earthy notes. This unique combination makes them an excellent addition to many recipes, particularly those requiring strong flavors and textures.
The sautéed mushrooms’ harmonious pairing with a French onion soup is undeniable, as the two ingredients complement each other beautifully. Ready in just 13 minutes, this simple recipe requires only a few basic ingredients: mushrooms and garlic. However, by adding additional components such as soy sauce, olive oil, butter, and thyme, we can further enhance the flavors of our sautéed mushrooms, taking them to new heights.
With its ease of preparation and versatility in complementing various dishes, this recipe is a must-try for anyone looking to add some depth and complexity to their meals.
Dark Chocolate
Join me in exploring one of the most unexpected yet delightful pairings for French onion soup – dark chocolate. At first glance, it may seem counterintuitive to combine the rich flavors of onions with the bold taste of dark chocolate, but trust me, it’s a game-changer. The bitterness of the dark chocolate perfectly complements the sweetness of the caramelized onions, creating an intriguing contrast that will elevate your French onion soup experience.
We’ve put together a simple recipe that you can follow to create this unique and delicious side dish.
Wine
Just as French onion soup is often paired with croutons or bread, serving wine can be a delightful accompaniment. This option is particularly convenient, requiring only the purchase of a bottle from a local store. A medium to full-bodied glass of wine will harmonize beautifully with the rich flavors present in the soup. Interestingly, many people opt for white wine due to its inherent sweetness and more affordable price point.
Nevertheless, red wine also deserves consideration as it brings a bold flavor that complements the broth effectively.
Scalloped Potatoes
Among the best ways to complement the richness of French onion soup is by finding a side dish that’s equally as decadent. This scalloped potato recipe stands out for its exceptional richness. Even better, it’s also super creamy and seriously crispy, making it an ideal choice for parties and family gatherings. In terms of filling options, scalloped potatoes are an excellent choice due to their ability to be made in large batches and their ease of preparation.
They’re a great way to feed a crowd without sacrificing flavor or texture. To prepare this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients: potatoes, butter, plain flour, milk, cream, cheddar cheese, and gruyere cheese. These ingredients are readily available at most grocery stores and can be easily combined to create a delicious side dish.
Steak
Keeping in mind the preferences of meat enthusiasts, serving a juicy steak alongside French onion soup is an unbeatable combination. The preparation time for this duo is minimal, and their flavors are sure to delight anyone who tries them. One of the best aspects of pairing steak with French onion soup is the flexibility that comes with it – you can season and prepare the steak in virtually any way you like.
The bold flavors of the onion soup and steak do require some balance, which can be achieved by choosing a leaner cut of meat. However, if you’re looking to indulge in a rich and meaty dish, a flank steak would be an excellent choice.
Oven Baked Salmon
Considering a lighter option for your meal? You might want to pair your onion soup with a piece of salmon that’s been freshly baked from the oven. The good news is that you can prepare salmon in a variety of ways – whether you choose to grill, bake, or serve it raw, the result will be a delicious dish. This fatty fish has a unique ability to balance out the richness of the onion soup, making it an excellent choice for those looking to add some variety to their meal planning.
Moreover, preparing salmon is incredibly easy, requiring only a few simple ingredients like brown sugar spice mix and garlic butter. Simply season your fish with these flavors and bake until cooked through.
Cheese Plate
Highlighting the versatility of a cheese platter, it’s not uncommon for people to reserve this option as a post-meal dessert, which is perfectly acceptable. Nevertheless, serving cheese platters at the beginning of a meal can be just as delightful, especially when paired with complementary dishes such as French onion soup. One of the greatest advantages of preparing a cheese plate lies in its effortless preparation.
All it requires is selecting your preferred ingredients and arranging them on a board. Besides presenting the main cheeses, consider adding hams, olives, and fresh fruit to create a well-rounded and visually appealing display.
Ratatouille
Just as a good chef knows how to simplify complex flavors, Chef de Home’s ratatouille recipe is a perfect example of turning complexity into simplicity. This classic dish from scratch is not only vibrant and healthy but also packed with flavor, making it a standout choice for anyone looking to cook up something delicious. What makes this recipe truly special is its ease of preparation – despite its rich, complex appearance, ratatouille is surprisingly easy to make, even for those new to cooking.
A real crowd-pleaser, this roasted vegetable dish is not only nutritious but also incredibly creamy, making it a great option for anyone looking to add some excitement to their mealtime. When preparing the recipe, don’t be afraid to get creative and throw in your favorite vegetables – the caramelized texture of the veggies pairs perfectly with the sweet, caramelized onions in the soup.
Garlic Bread
Oftentimes, when serving French onion soup, people opt for a classic pairing like bread. However, you can always mix things up by making garlic bread instead. This popular Italian side dish is not only easy to make but also incredibly delicious, and its crispy texture pairs perfectly with the smooth, savory flavors of the soup. In this recipe, we’re using ciabatta as our base, which provides an amazing crunch that complements the softness of the bread.
By making garlic breadsticks alongside your regular garlic bread, you can take your meal to the next level and make it even more enjoyable to dip into your favorite soups.
Caesar Salad
Navigating through the world of salads can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing the perfect accompaniment to a classic dish like French onion soup. Not only does a well-crafted salad add a beautiful finish to the rich flavors of the soup, but it also provides a refreshing contrast in texture and taste. In this case, a simple yet hearty Caesar salad is an excellent choice.
With its ability to provide a lighter and less rich option compared to the onion soup, it serves as a pleasant accompaniment that complements the dish nicely. To prepare a delicious Caesar salad, you’ll only need a few essential ingredients such as chicken, lettuce, croutons, and cheese. However, don’t forget that making a homemade dressing can elevate the flavors of your salad and make it even more enjoyable.
Wiener Schnitzel
Zest up your meal with our take on traditional schnitzel. We’ve experimented with various types of meat and found that it’s perfect for serving alongside French onion soup. The addition of crunchy goodness to the dish is unmatched, elevating each bite to a new level. For those who prefer a more authentic approach, we suggest using veal cutlets, but feel free to experiment with pork or chicken – both options offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
Pork, in particular, provides a crispy exterior and tender interior that pairs wonderfully with our signature soup.
Bourbon Cocktails
Pairing beverages with French onion soup is an art that goes beyond wine alone. A good bourbon cocktail also works exceptionally well with this classic dish. The reason for this pairing lies in the characteristics of bourbon, which are sweet, warming, and slightly smoky – all qualities that complement French onion soup nicely. When it comes to choosing a bourbon cocktail, there’s often too much choice, so we’ve curated a long list of recipes you can try at home.
Personally, our favorite is the classic Bourbon Old Fashioned. The subtle hints of orange and the strong, bold finish of the bourbon create a perfect harmony that enhances the flavors of the soup without overpowering them.
Baked Parmesan Tomatoes
Carefully crafted to impress your dinner guests, baked parmesan tomatoes are a simple yet flavorful side dish that’s perfect for serving alongside French onion soup. Not only do they require minimal ingredients and preparation time, but the end result is a delicious combination of sweet tomato flavors and rich, creamy cheese notes.
Aside from its ease of preparation, one of the key advantages of this side dish is the fact that it’s incredibly easy to make without sacrificing any flavor or texture. The sweetness of the tomatoes is perfectly balanced by the savory taste of the parmesan cheese, which takes the dish to new heights.
All you need to get started are some ripe tomatoes, a block of parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of oregano for added depth of flavor, salt and pepper for seasoning, and a drizzle of virgin olive oil to bring everything together. With these basic ingredients and a few simple steps, you can create a mouth-watering side dish that’s sure to become a new favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Taking into consideration the classic combination of flavors and textures, sandwiches do go well with French onion soup. Many people opt for a sandwich as a side dish when enjoying this popular soup. A beef sandwich is arguably the best choice to serve with onion soup, as its rich flavor complements the savory broth nicely. To elevate your French onion soup experience, it’s essential to choose a high-quality wine that will enhance the overall taste.
Among various wine options, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, and merlot are considered some of the best choices for this soup. However, the quality of the wine is just as important as its type – make sure to select a good-quality wine that will add depth to your onion soup. When preparing your French onion soup, consider taking the extra step of browning your onions before adding them to the pot.
While it’s not strictly necessary, sautéing the onions in a pan beforehand ensures they’re cooked through thoroughly and adds a rich, caramelized flavor to the soup.
Directions
For an immersive culinary experience, follow these steps to bring a recipe to life. First, choose one that catches your attention from our curated list above. Next, click on the recipe name to visit its dedicated webpage and gather all the necessary information. Collect the ingredients, cooking methods, and any additional guidance provided. Finally, relish the finished dish – don’t forget to share your feedback with others by leaving a review or rating it.
