Onion and Black Garlic Soup with Cider

Serves 4. Ladle into soup bowls and scatter a few croutons and a handful of Gruyere cheese over the top.

Ingredients

• 50g butter
• 900g onions, finely sliced
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 200 ml cider
• 3 cloves of black garlic – finely sliced
• 1 litre of chicken or vegetable stock
• Salt and black pepper

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the finely sliced onions.
2. Add the leaves from 3 sprigs of fresh thyme.
3. Cook uncovered over a low heat, stirring every so often. This can take up to 40 minutes, until the onions are soft and caramel in colour.
4. Add the finely sliced black garlic and stir in.
5. Season with salt and black pepper.
6. Pour the cider into the pan and simmer until reduced by half.
7. Stir in the stock.
8. Cook for a further 20 minutes until the onions are soft and tender.
9. Season to taste.