Recipe: Sweet Onion Soup With Fried Cheese Tortellini

Sweet Onion Soup With Fried Cheese Tortellini
Source: chef and author Emeril Lagasse

1/4 cup olive oil
6 cups thinly sliced sweet onions
2 teaspoons Emeril's Original Essence or Creole Seasoning
1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
2 bay leaves
10 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon fresh basil
2 quarts chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups diced day-old French bread (crusts removed), 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Vegetable oil for deep frying
16 cheese tortellini, completely thawed if frozen
2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, 1 teaspoon of the Essence, the salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Cook, stirring, until the onions are just golden, 15 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute. Add the tarragon, oregano, basil, and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Add the bread and cream. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, whisking often, until the bread dissolves and the soup is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or blender, puree the soup. Add the cheese and adjust the seasonings to taste. Cover and keep the soup warm over very low heat.

Pour enough oil into a deep heavy pot or electric deep fryer to come halfway up the sides and heat over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F. In batches, carefully add the tortellini to the hot oil and deep-fry, turning frequently with a long-hanled slotted spoon, until golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Remove with the slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season with the remaining 1 teaspoon of Essence.

Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with the fried tortellini and parsley.

This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings