
A historical soup from Favorite tested recipes of the members of Humboldt Park Chapter O.E.S and their friends (1900).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
0 notes
Sign in to share your thoughts and connect with the community
Sign In to CommentLoading notes...
Melt two tablespoons butter or substitute
Add one pint of sliced onions and cook slowly for ten minutes, keeping covered so they won't brown
Add three cups boiling water and let simmer until soft enough to put through a sieve about three-quarters of an hour
Make a white sauce of two tablespoons butter or substitute, one and one-half tablespoon cornstarch, three cups hot milk, which has been scalded, with a bay leaf and a bit of mace
Salt and pepper to taste
Add to onion puree and serve
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Cooking the onions slowly in butter without browning allows their natural sugars to convert through gentle caramelization while maintaining a pale color, developing sweetness without the bitter compounds that form at higher temperatures. Simmering the onions until soft enough to purée breaks down their cell walls and harsh sulfur compounds, creating a mellow, creamy base. The cornstarch-thickened white sauce, when combined with the onion purée, creates a velvety emulsion that coats the palate while the bay leaf and mace add aromatic complexity that enhances the onions' natural flavor.
The onion purée can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. The white sauce is best made fresh, but the milk can be infused with bay leaf and mace up to 1 day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before combining with the onion purée.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The soup may thicken upon cooling; thin with additional milk or water when reheating. Reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching or separation. Do not boil. Not recommended for freezing as the cornstarch-thickened base may separate and become grainy when thawed.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The onion purée can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. The white sauce is best made fresh, but the milk can be infused with bay leaf and mace up to 1 day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before combining with the onion purée.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The soup may thicken upon cooling; thin with additional milk or water when reheating. Reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching or separation. Do not boil. Not recommended for freezing as the cornstarch-thickened base may separate and become grainy when thawed.