Healthy Makeover: French Onion Soup

Everyone loves the gooey richness of French onion soup — but not the excess fat and salt, especially as swimsuit season nears. So we swapped in olive oil for butter and added a dash of soy sauce to chicken broth to mimic the savory depth of salty beef stock. Finally, we blanketed our dish with Gruyère and reduced-fat Swiss — because what's onion soup without the cheese?

Our version has 890 fewer calories, 21g less saturated fat, and 2,230mg less sodium than traditional French onion soup.

Ingredients

• 15 mls extra virgin olive oil
• 3 large (10 to 12 ounces each) red onions, very thinly sliced
• 3 sprig(s) fresh thyme
• Salt
• Pepper
• 120 mls dry red wine
• 1 can(s) (14- to 14 1/2-ounce) lower-sodium chicken broth (1 3/4 cups)
• 540 mls water
• 10 mls lower-sodium soy sauce
• 4 slice(s) (1/2-inch thick each) whole wheat baguette
• 5 mls cornstarch
• 38 mls shredded Gruyère cheese (1/4 cup)
• 4 slice(s) reduced-fat Swiss cheese

Directions

1. In 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy saucepot, heat oil on medium-high. Stir in onions, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover partially. Cook 15 to 17 minutes or until onions are golden brown and very tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Add wine and simmer 2 to 4 minutes or until reduced by half. Add broth, water, and soy sauce. Heat to boiling on high, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer; simmer 20 minutes.
3. Arrange oven rack 6 inches from broiler heat source. Preheat broiler. Place bread slices in jelly-roll pan. Broil 30 to 60 seconds or until golden brown. Divide among four 8-ounce ovenproof soup crocks or ramekins.
4. In small bowl, stir cornstarch and 1 tablespoon soup liquid from pot until cornstarch dissolves. Stir into soup and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Discard thyme. Divide soup among soup crocks.
5. Sprinkle Gruyère evenly over soup, then place 1 slice Swiss on top of each crock. Broil 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information
(per serving)

 

Calories	260
Total Fat	11g
Saturated Fat	4g
Cholesterol	20mg
Sodium	650mg
Total Carbohydrate	30g
Dietary Fiber	5g
Sugars	--
Protein	14g
Calcium	--

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/healthy-french-onion-soup-recipe-ghk0311