Among the various delicacies of French cuisine, Onion Soup is the most delightful and fulfilling option. While this classic and flavorful dish can be enough even when served alone, its taste enhances further when combined with a perfect side dish.
Classic French Onion Soup feels like a warm hug on a cold day, and it is one of the most popular comfort foods preferred by people across the globe.
Relishing the soup makes you feel entirely immersed in its delicious taste and offers the culinary satisfaction almost unmatched by any other dish.
Although there are several options for side dishes to savor Onion Soup’s rich and warming taste, the 15 best ones include the following:
1. Cheese and Crackers
This simple yet elegant appetizer complements the French Onion soup perfectly, making it one of the most popular options. The lightness of freshly baked crackers balances the richness of melted cheese nicely to add more flavor to the dish.
- Swap the melted cheese with grated cheese to mix up the flavor.
- Sprinkle some finely chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, into the dough and add seeds, like sesame, poppy, or chopped sunflower seeds to add to the health factor.
2. Lemon And Dill Salmon
This side dish adds a zest to the soup and creates a refreshing flavor contrasting texture to the soup. The fresh lemon juice and dill induce a savory and complex flavor to the entire dish and make it more filling.
Grill the fish to enhance its flavor and add a mildly sweet caramelization on the surface. When seasoned with dill, lemon juice, and garlic, this grilled salmon proves to complement the soup.
3. Vegetable Antipasto Salad
This easy-to-prepare dish provides a crunchy contrast to the delicious onion soup. The dish does not require any cooking and is favored by vegans and vegetarians looking to enhance the flavor of the French Onion soup. Marinate the salad and refrigerate it for some time before serving to add to the crunch.
4. Parmesan Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are a popular choice when it comes to appetizers and they complement the French Onion Soup perfectly. This easy-to-make side dish can be prepared quickly. The stemless mushroom caps are filled with the stuffing made from a mixture of garlic parmesan, cream cheese, and bread crumbs and then baked. Dipping the baked mushrooms in a French onion soup creates a heavenly blending of flavors.
5. Grilled Cheese Pesto Panini
This side dish helps to create a delightful combination of soup served with sandwiches. The soup and the Panini offer a unique contrast of flavor and texture that makes for an exclusive dining experience. The taste can be further enhanced by using different ingredients for Panini filling.
6. Steak Au Poivre
Also known as steak with pepper, the dish is perfect for people looking to have something substantial with their French Onion soup. Eating the peppercorn-coated fillet mignon steak, cooked in oil and butter, enhances the deliciousness of the French Onion soup manifold. It also sets the right theme for a multi-course traditional French meal. Typically, the steak is seared in a hot skillet with a small amount of butter and oil to cook it.
7. Candied Bacon Brie
French onion soup and bacon brie are two very rich foods and make an extraordinary combination. Baked brie topped with sweet and salty candied bacon is the most memorable appetizer you will ever have. The recipe is simple to prepare and enhances the flavor of Onion Soup quite significantly.
Cook diced bacon with brown sugar, rice vinegar, maple syrup, black pepper, and cayenne. Add brie to a baking tray and top it with a candied bacon mixture. Bake the dish to make brie hard and crunchy.
8. Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
This fantastic dish is delightful when served alongside French Onion Soup. Garlic is a kitchen staple known to enhance the taste and health of any dish. Cook quick-sauteed shrimp with rich and tasty garlic butter sauce to make an elegant side dish that is easy to fall in love with. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the finished dish for an extra spark of acid and flavor.
9. Arugula Salad
A simple arugula salad makes your meal more satisfying and filling. This side dish is unbelievably easy to make and will change your perception of salads from being bland to something that you enjoy eating and is easy on your palette.
Arugula salad with its light dressing and roasted vegetables goes well with a French Onion Soup. The salad is made from 6 ingredients, including the arugula, most of which are readily available in the house.
Other ingredients include grated carrots, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan, and various seeds and nuts. The crunchy taste of the salad is further enhanced by the simple dressing of lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt.
10. Croque Monsieur
Croque Monsieur is similar to a French grilled cheese sandwich. It is cheesy, crusty, and pretty much a dish to dream about. If you wish to turn your French Onion Soup into a fancy French feast, take some time to make this highly recommended side dish.
The bechamel dreamy and creamy sauce used in the recipe makes this sandwich distinctive. Toast the bread and stack on the ingredients before grilling it until the cheese starts oozing. This scrumptious dish when taken with the classic French Onion Soup is sure to satisfy your taste buds and fill your heart with love.
11. Godiva Chocolate Brownies
The mild flavor of the bittersweet dark chocolate adds a contrasting taste to the classic French Onion Soup. The insanely fudgy brownies make a great choice to complement a big bowl of this delicious soup.
They are really easy to make, are family-friendly, and always prove to be a hit recipe. Microwave the Godiva chocolate and butter to melt them and then mix them thoroughly. Add espresso powder, vanilla, and salt to the mixture and keep aside.
Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl until the mixture becomes thick and yellow.
Add the chocolate mixture to the blend before gradually adding flour. When the dough is ready, bake it in a pre-heated oven for making the most delicious brownies.
12. Lemon-Parsley Tilapia
Baked fish and French onion soup can do wonders for your appetite and they definitely work well when consumed together.
- Warm the oven to brown the cheese for your soup.
- Bake some Tilapia fish for about 15 minutes.
- Add loads of butter and lemon to make light and healthy protein complement your soup.
- You can have tilapia every day of the year without repeating a recipe. Having this dish with Onion soup keeps you satiated for a long.
13. Garlic Bread Sticks or Fresh Baguettes
Garlic breadsticks and fresh baguettes are two of the most popular side dishes of any meal. These wholesome pieces of bread complement the classic onion soup perfectly and turn it into a filling meal.
Add a variety of flavors to these simple bread options by topping them with melted cheese, grated garlic, different herbs, and spices, or any other ingredients that you can think of. These side dishes offer great scope for versatility which ensures that you can relish a new taste every time you have them in combination with your onion soup.
14. Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
The contrast of flavors found in prosciutto and asparagus complement each other wonderfully. The overall blend works to create a magical combination with the flavors of French Onion Soup.
The prosciutto provides a wonderful smokey, salty and meaty flavor while the asparagus adds a bitter and slightly earthy taste. Together they help to enhance the rich creamy flavor of the soup and make it more comforting and delicious.
15. Labneh Dip with Caramelized Onions
Labneh is a healthy, creamy spread or dips with a texture like whipped cream cheese. Made from strained, Greek-style yogurt, it’s perfect for all kinds of party dip toppings. It is flavored with fresh and dried herbs and topped with caramelized onions to turn it into a seriously addictive party appetizer. It is the perfect side dish for Onion Soup when served as an appetizer.
Conclusion
French onion soup is extremely versatile and makes for a delicious meal or even a great starter. Whether you are enjoying it alone or with a partner or with friends, a great side dish is just what you need to turn it into a perfect meal.
