Name: Pho-Spiced French Onion Soup
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: Soup ingredients:; 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter; 1 Tbsp. neutral oil (grapeseed or avocado oil); 3 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp. sugar; ½ cup dry white wine, or dry vermouth; 6 cups low-sodium beef or mushroom broth; 1 Tbsp. soy sauce; 1 tsp. fish sauce, optional, for deeper umami; ½ lime, juiced; Thai basil, fried shallots, or a drizzle of chili crisp, to garnish; Cheese toasts ingredients:; 1 baguette, sliced into thick rounds; 1½ cups shredded Gruyère or Emmental

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Pho-Spiced French Onion Soup

Recipe by Savory Spice Test Kitchen

Global Cuisines

Fusion

A comforting East-meets-West mashup that transforms the classic French onion soup with the bold, fragrant flavors of Chinese Five Spice, cardamom, and coriander. It’s familiar, but each spoonful carries you somewhere unexpected. The kind of soup that makes your kitchen smell like magic and your taste buds lean in for another bite.

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Serves 6 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cooking Time 1 hour 15 minutes

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Ingredients

Soup ingredients: 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 Tbsp. neutral oil (grapeseed or avocado oil) 3 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp. sugar

1 ½ tsp. Kosher Salt

2 tsp. Chinese Five Spice

½ tsp. Ground Inner Cardamom Seeds

1 tsp. Ground Coriander Seeds

½ cup dry white wine, or dry vermouth 6 cups low-sodium beef or mushroom broth 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. fish sauce, optional, for deeper umami ½ lime, juiced Thai basil, fried shallots, or a drizzle of chili crisp, to garnish Cheese toasts ingredients: 1 baguette, sliced into thick rounds 1½ cups shredded Gruyère or Emmental

Directions

Step 1 In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat butter and oil over medium. Add onions, sugar, and salt. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to low and caramelize for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring every few minutes. The onions should become deep golden and jammy.

Step 2 Pro Tip: Deglaze with a splash of water or broth as needed to prevent burning and build deeper flavor.

Step 3 Stir in the minced garlic, Chinese Five Spice, Ground Inner Cardamom Seeds, and Ground Coriander Seeds. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the wine and deglaze the pan, scraping up the browned bits.

Step 4 Add the broth, soy sauce, and fish sauce. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lime juice for brightness. Adjust salt to taste.

Step 5 While the soup simmers, toast baguette slices under the broiler until golden. Top with cheese and return to broil until bubbling and browned.

Step 6 Ladle the hot soup into bowls and float a cheesy toast on top. Garnish with optional Thai basil, fried shallots, or chili crisp for added flair.