Red onion soup with cheesy sourdough melts

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan, then add the onions, garlic, thyme and a little salt and pepper. Cook over a low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the onions are soft. Once softened, increase the heat and stir until the onions are well caramelised.
2. Add the wine, then bubble to reduce by half. Stir in the stock, bring back up to the boil, then turn the heat back down to low, cover and simmer gently for 20-25 minutes until rich and flavourful. Add most of the parsley, then taste and adjust the seasoning (see Make Ahead).
3. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Layer the camembert and grated gruyère on the unbuttered side of three slices. Top with the other three slices, butter-side up, pressing firmly to sandwich together.
4. Put a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the sandwiches, then cover with a piece of foil and weigh them down with a second pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until the bread is crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.
5. Spoon the soup into warmed bowls, then scatter over the remaining parsley. Cut each sandwich in half and serve alongside the soup.