Creamy Roasted-Onion Soup

== Description ==
Source: Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2004 - Cooking Light Magazine
== Ingredients ==
* 1 1/4 pounds Oso or other sweet onions, peeled and quartered
* Cooking spray
* 1 whole garlic head, unpeeled
* 1 tablespoon water
* 1/8 teaspoon saffron threads (optional)
* 2 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
* 1 bay leaf
* 1/4 cup dry sherry or Madeira wine, divided
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
* 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
* Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
== Directions ==
# Preheat oven to 375°.
# Place quartered onion on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, and light coat onion with cooking spray.
# Remove white papery skin from garlic head (do not peel or separate cloves).
# Place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil.
# Drizzle with water; wrap in foil.
# Place wrapped garlic on baking sheet with onion.
# Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until onion is soft and lightly browned, turning after 30 minutes.
# Cool.
# Place onion in a large saucepan.
# Unwrap garlic; separate cloves, and squeeze to extract pulp into pan.
# Discard garlic skins.
# Add saffron (if desired), broth, and bay leaf to pan.
# Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
# Stir in 3 tablespoons sherry, pepper, and salt.
# Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
# Discard bay leaf.
# Place half of onion mixture in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.
# Pour puréed mixture into a large bowl; repeat procedure with remaining onion mixture.
# Return onion mixture to pan; cook over low heat until thoroughly heated,
# Stir in 1 tablespoon sherry and juice.
# Ladle 1 cup soup into each of 4 bowls; top each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese.
# Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.
Yield: 4 servings
Category:Healthy Recipes
Category:Healthy Soups
Category:Healthy Main Dishes
Category:Low-calorie Recipes
Category:Low-fat Recipes
Category:American Recipes
Category:American Soups
Category:American Main Dishes
Category:Soup Recipes
Category:Onion Recipes
Category:Onion Soup Recipes
Category:Cooking spray Recipes
Category:Garlic Recipes
Category:Water Recipes
Category:Saffron Recipes
Category:Chicken stock and broth Recipes
Category:Stock and broth Recipes
Category:Bay Leaf Recipes
Category:Sherry Recipes
Category:Madeira Recipes
Category:Wine Recipes
Category:Alcohol Recipes
Category:Black pepper Recipes
Category:Pepper Recipes
Category:Salt Recipes
Category:Lemon juice Recipes
Category:Cheese Recipes
Category:Swiss cheese Recipes
Category:Parsley Recipes