If You Like French Onion Soup, Irish Onion Soup Might Win You Over - Tasting Table

"Sweet yet savory and umami onions; hearty, toothsome bread; and a blanket of caramelized, ooey-gooey cheese - is there anything more satisfying than classic French onion soup? But that's not to say this perfection can't be improved upon, or at least riffed on in a must-try way. If you already love this French-ified dish, it's time to stamp your soup passport with an Irish spin."

"Both French and onion soup call for onions, of course, along with beef stock or broth, a thicker bread cut into slices, butter, and basic seasonings like salt. But where French onion soup uses red wine, Irish onion soup employs both Guinness and Irish whiskey - it's like cooking the flavors of a cozy pub right into your soup. And instead of the French version's gruyere, this variation utilizes cheddar, ideally, Irish cheddar."

"Irish onion soup takes the same base of French onion soup with its savory onions and beef stock into complex territory. The stout and whiskey provide depth with notes of roastiness as well as subtle honey sweetness that plays well with the onions. This balance is both bolstered and cut by the cheese, simultaneously rich and tangy."

Irish onion soup combines caramelized onions and beef stock with Guinness and Irish whiskey to add roastiness and subtle honeyed sweetness. The recipe uses hearty, toothsome bread—preferably Irish country bread—sliced thick and topped with a blanket of melted cheddar, ideally Irish cheddar, for rich, tangy contrast. Butter and basic seasonings like salt finish the base flavors. The stout and whiskey deepen the broth while the cheese both bolsters and cuts the richness. The soup evokes pub-inspired flavors and fits occasions like St. Patrick’s Day or any cozy meal. Irish cheeses and breads contribute distinctive regional character.

Read at Tasting Table