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–+ servings
Two colorful bowls of soup topped with grated cheese on a yellow gingham towel.
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5 from 4 votes

Basler Mehlsuppe (Swiss Flour Soup from Basel)

Basler Mehlsuppe is Basel, Switzerland’s signature dish. Its name means flour soup and it’s made with browned flour, beef stock, onions, sometimes red wine, and is finished with grated Swiss cheese such as Gruyère.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Swiss
Servings: 4 small servings (or 2 larger servings)
Calories: 253kcal
Author: Victoria

Ingredients

  • 55 grams (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 60 grams (½ cup) all-purpose flour
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
  • 1 quart (4 cups) beef stock or good quality beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons red wine
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Freshly grated nutmeg
  • 50 grams (about ¾ cup) shredded Gruyère cheese (or as desired)

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and continue to cook, stirring regularly, until the flour is a dark caramel brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. Add the onion, stirring to coat and cook for another couple minutes.
  • Slowly add the beef stock, whisking constantly to ensure a smooth mixture. Add the red wine, then raise the heat to bring it to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer and continue to simmer, with the lid slightly ajar, for 1 hour to develop the flavors.
  • Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Divide into serving bowls or cups and garnish with grated cheese before serving.

Notes

  • This mehlsuppe recipe makes 4 smaller cup size servings, but can also serve 2 larger bowl size servings, if you prefer.
  • If you have homemade beef broth or stock, definitely use it, however good quality store-bought beef broth or stock work well too! With such a minimal number of ingredients you just want to make sure they are better quality for the best results.
  • Red wine is often included in mehlsuppe, and the amount can range from a couple tablespoons to more. You can omit this ingredient if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g