Caramelized Onion and Toasted Bread Soup

• MAKE-AHEAD
• STAFF-FAVORITE
• VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

1. 3 slices of white sandwich bread, cut into 1-inch squares
2. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3. 2 large white onions, thinly sliced
4. 1 1/2 cups water, plus more for deglazing
5. 4 1/2 cups whole milk
6. Salt and freshly ground pepper
7. Crème fraîche and snipped chives or 1/4 cup of the Herbed Crème Fraîche Dip for garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the bread squares on a baking sheet and toast for about 10 minutes, until golden.
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the onions, cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to moderately low and cook uncovered until the onions are deeply golden, 30 minutes. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of water a few times during cooking to deglaze the pan.
3. Add the toasted bread, milk and the 1 1/2 cups of water to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer over very low heat just until the bread is very soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer the soup to a blender and puree until smooth.
4. Transfer the soup to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper and pour into bowls. Garnish with crème fraîche and chives and serve.