Step 1: Tender Loving Onions: Start by melting that rich, golden butter in a large, deep pot over medium-low heat. Toss in your sweet onions and let them take their time, softening and releasing all their natural sugars. We’re not rushing here; this is Southern-style patience, y’all. Stir occasionally and let them get beautifully tender and just a touch golden.
Step 2: Build the Flavor: Once those onions are looking lovely, stir in the minced garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire, white pepper, sea salt, Badia Complete, and cornstarch. Add just a splash of water to create a smooth, velvety base and let those seasonings work their magic. Your kitchen’s gonna smell like pure heaven at this point.
Step 3: Bring It Together: Pour in the rest of the water, then stir in the beef base, veggie base, bay leaves, and white wine. Give it all a good mix and let the pot settle into a nice, slow simmer on low heat. This soup needs at least an hour for the flavors to meld together into that deep, savory goodness we’re going for.
Step 4: Serve It Southern Style: When the soup is ready, ladle it into sturdy bowls. Top each bowl with a generous handful of crusty deli bread croutons and a heaping pile of shredded mozzarella cheese. That cheese is gonna melt right over the croutons like a dreamy, gooey blanket. If you’ve got a broiler handy, pop the bowls in for a minute or two to get a bubbly, golden top—but it’s just as delicious without!