French Onion Soup Gratin
Time is the secret ingredient for this soup
- slow cooking brings out the onion's natural sweetness. We give the process a
jump-start with agUiA tint in the microwave first so you get to the fun part
sooner: digging in!
French
Onion Soup Gratin
Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours
·
3 large brown onions, thinly sliced
·
2 large red onionsthinly sliced
·
1/2 tsp salt
·
1 tablespoon olive oil
·
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
·
¼ cup dry sherry
·
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
·
4 cups low-sodium beef stock
·
4 2cm-thick slices of whole-wheat baguette
·
4 slices light Swiss cheese
Place both types of onion in a large
microwavable bowl, top with half cup water and cover with a microwavable plate.
Cook on high for 10 minutes. Add salt to bowl and toss to coat; cook for 15
minutes more. Strain out the onion, reserving one cup of the cooking liquid and
discarding the rest. Set aside.
Heat a large heavy pot over medium-high.
Add olive oil and the cooked onions to the pan and allow to sit and cook
undisturbed for two minutes then stir bringing the onions on the bottom, of the
pan up to the top. Reduce heat to low and continue turning every five to 10 minutes
for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown. Add thyme midway through cooking.
Once onions are golden, pour in sherry 3
and raise heat to medium-high. Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to release
the brown bits, then add both stocks and the reserved onion water. Simmer for
30 minutes.
Preheat the griller on high. Meanwhile,
toast baguette slices in a toaster. Ladle onion soup into four large crocks or
oven-safe bowls and top each with a slice of toast and drape a slice of Swiss
cheese over the top. Place bowls on a baking sheet and grill on the second
shelf - about 12cm from the heat source - for five minutes or until cheese is
melted and golden
Nutrition score per serving (1 bowl): 356 calories, 70g fat (4g saturated), 46g carbs, 77g
protein, 5g fibre, 215mg calcium, 2mg iron, 983mg sodium
Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Thanks to savvy substitutes – Greek yoghurt
for butter and filo for a pastry crust – this vegie-studded pot pie tastes as
rich as the original, with just 16 percent of the fat.
Mini
Chicken Pot Pies
Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
·
1 ¾ cups salt-reduced chicken stock
·
¼ cup dry white wine
·
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
·
500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts
·
1 tsp Dijon mustard
·
1 tsp dried tarragon
·
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
·
1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 medium)
·
1 stalk celery, diced
·
½ small onion, peeled and diced
·
8 green beans, ends trimmed and cut onto
quarters
·
4 medium Swiss brown mushroom caps, thinly
sliced
·
¼ cup frozen peas, thawed
·
¼ cup low-fat Greek yoghurt
·
8 sheets frozen filo pastry, thawed
·
Olive oil spray
Preheat oven to 200°C. In a small bowl,
whisk 3/4 cup of the chicken stock with wine and flour; set aside. Heat
remaining cup of chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat . Add
chicken breasts in a single layer, cover and bring to a simmer, then lower heat
to medium-low. Partially cover with lid and simmer for 15 minutes more.
Place chicken breasts on a plate to cool.
Meanwhile, add mustard, tarragon and pepper to the saucepan and whisk together.
Mix in vegetables; cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once
simmering, reduce heat to medium-low and cover with lid slightly open for 10
minutes, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
Meanwhile, stir the wine mixture and pour
into the simmering vegetables and stock. Mix well to incorporate and raise heat
to medium. Bring to a simmer while stirring frequently. Chop cooked chicken
into 2cm pieces and add to the pan. Remove from heat and let sit for 10
minutes. Stir in yoghurt until smooth.
Ladle the chicken and vegetable mixture
into four small ramekins and set aside. On a clean work surface, unroll filo
sheets and cover with a damp cloth. Working quickly, move one sheet to a clear
surface of your work area and coat with cooking spray. Top with another sheet
and coat with additional olive oil spray. Fold both in half then fold in half
again so you have a rectangle. Place on top of filled ramekin and press down
around the edge to secure. Lightly spray the top with additional olive oil
spray and repeat process for remaining pies.
Place ramekins on a baking sheet and 5 bake
for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden. Serve immediately.
Nutrition score per serving (7 pot pie): 339 calories, 4g fat (7g saturated), 36g carbs, 35g
protein, 3g fibre, 56mg calcium, 3mg iron, 397mg sodium
