Carabaccia (Tuscan Onion Soup)

Ingredients

• 4 pounds red onions
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 3 leaves sage
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 0.25 cups finely ground almonds , Optional
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar , or to taste
• 5 cups beef broth , or more as needed

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the soup: Peel onions and cut in half. Cut along the grain lengthwise into thin slices.

2. 2

   Heat oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and kosher salt. Cook and stir until starting to turn translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and sweet, about 1 hour.

3. 3

   Add sage leaves, pepper, cinnamon, and almonds to the onions. Cook and stir until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a soup pot. Pour in vinegar and broth and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.

4. 4

   When the soup is almost finished, make the toast: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil.

5. 5

   Place Italian bread onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil over the bread; sprinkle sliced sage and some Parmesan cheese on top.

6. 6

   Toast in the preheated oven until browned, about 15 minutes.

7. 7

   Ladle soup into serving bowls and top each with a piece of toast. Drizzle remaining olive oil over the toast and sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese on top. Dunk toast into the soup and let soak for a few minutes before serving.