**Savor the Delight of Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Soup with Cheesy Toasties and Bacon**
Treat yourself to a soul-warming bowl of our Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Soup, served with cheesy Toasties and crispy Bacon. This delightful medley is ideal for a cozy supper at home or a foodie-friendly gathering with your loved ones.
⏲️ Servings: 4
⏲️ Preparation Time: 15 minutes
⏲️ Cooking Time: 45 minutes
⏲️ Total Time: 1 hour
**Ingredients For Soup:**
– Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
– Large onion, thinly sliced (1)
– Garlic, minced (2 Cloves)
– Mushrooms, sliced (500g)
– Thyme (1 teaspoon)
– Vegetable or chicken broth (4 cups)
– Salt and pepper (to taste)
– Heavy cream (1/2 cup) – Optional
**For the Cheesy Toasties:**
– Baguette or sourdough bread slices (4)
– Grated cheese (cheddar or gruyere) (1 cup)
– Bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (4)
**How to Prepare:**
1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for around 15 minutes until they turn golden brown and caramelize.
2. Stir in the minced garlic and let it cook for a minute. Add sliced mushrooms and thyme, cooking them for another 10-15 minutes until the mushrooms soften and brown.
3. Pour in the broth and give it a good stir. Once it boils, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper as per taste. If you want your soup creamier, add heavy cream just before serving.
4. Preheat your oven broiler. Put the bread slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle generous amounts of cheese on each. Put it to broil until the cheese turns viscous and golden.
5. Finally, assemble the soup and the toasties. Serve the soup hot in a soup bowl. Top it with the cheesy toasties and sprinkle crumbled bacon on them.
Savor the smooth and comforting Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Soup accompanied by the crunch of cheesy toasties and bacon.
Feel free to let us know how your cooking venture was in the comments below!
**How to Serve: **
This warm, comforting soup is served best hot straight out of the stove. Complement the soup with cheesy toasties and a sprinkle of bacon to enhance the taste.
**How to Store: **
This soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer usage, you can freeze the soup for up to 3 months.
**Tips:**
1. If you don’t have any fresh thyme, you can use 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme.
2. The choice of cheese can alter the taste to an extent. Experiment with different types of cheese for your cheesy toasties.
**Variations:**
This recipe can be easily tweaked. Vegetarians can skip bacon or replace it with a veggie version. For a vegan version, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and skip the heavy cream.
**FAQs:**
1. **Can I use any other type of mushroom?** Yes, you can use any type of edible mushrooms available to you.
2. **What can I use as a substitute for heavy cream?** You can substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free alternative.
3. **Can I use dried thyme instead of fresh thyme?** Yes, you can use dried thyme. The ratio is usually 1:3 fresh to dried.