Grilled Cheese, Onion and Ale Soup
Photography Aaron McLean.
A twist on a great classic, the apple adds sweetness and balances the slight bitterness that beer can sometimes impart. Use a good quality beef stock for a rich, dark soup packed with onions and topped with delicious melting cheese.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
6 large brown onions, peeled and sliced
2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 cup light ale
4 cups beef stock
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
To assemble
slices sourdough bread, lightly toasted
150 grams grated Gruyère cheese
4 ovenproof soup bowls
METHOD
Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan and add the onions, apples and rosemary with a good pinch of salt. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of the ale if the onions start catching on the base of the pan. Uncover and cook for a further 15 minutes until a good golden colour. Stir in the garlic, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and the sugar then sprinkle over the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add the remaining ale then the stock and season. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Preheat the grill to its highest setting.
To assemble: Place the bowls on a baking tray and ladle in the hot soup. Top with the bread then scatter over the cheese. Place under the grill and cook until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
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126
We start by sharing what’s on the dish team’s radar, what we’re watching, listening to and reading. Harry Butterfield puts a twist on his Nonna’s agnolotti, Malissa Fedele reminds us of the importance of fibre, and Phoebe Holden fulfils a long-held dream, sitting down with Yotam Ottolenghi. Autumn is an abundant time, we make the most with pumpkin, kūmara, cabbage, cauliflower, feijoas, apples and pears. We’re dishing up dinners for two, including a Chicken Dumpling Lasagne, alongside easy weeknight meals. We honour our mums, revisit timeless classics, and add a little baking challenge. This issue, we encourage you to slow down, to enjoy writing your shopping list, and spending time in the kitchen. Because even when life feels relentless, there’s always space to share something delicious.







