Ludo Lefebvre cooking.
The Secret Ingredient Ludo Lefebvre Uses For Perfect French Onion Soup

NEWS

By HILARY WHEELAN REMLEY
Ludo Lefebvre smiling.
In 2019, French chef and culinary star Ludo Lefebvre spoke with Food & Wine and shared key pointers for making the perfect bowl of French onion soup.
A bowl and bottle of Worcestershire sauce on a table.
Some of Lefebvre's tips for the classic dish are straightforward, but one tip he mentioned that will elevate your French onion soup is adding Worcestershire sauce.
Worcestershire sauce being poured onto a spoon and into a bowl.
Talking about the interesting addition, the chef noted, "It really brings back more flavors of the beef." This is true, given that the sauce is often paired with beef-based foods.
Hand holding a bottle of Worcestershire sauce in grocery store.
A certified umami booster, the dark and savory Worcestershire sauce typically consists of a vinegar base and contains molasses, anchovies, onion, tamarind, and garlic.
A bowl of French onion soup on a table.
When it comes to French onion soup, the vinegar adds tanginess, the molasses add a sweetness that enhances the caramelized onions, and the anchovies bring out the beefy flavors.