🇨🇭 Swiss Cuisine

Basler Mehlsuppe

Basel Flour Soup

Prep Time 15 min

Servings 4

Difficulty Easy

Calories 220 kcal

A deeply savory soup of toasted flour simmered with onions and beef broth, finished with grated Gruyère — the traditional opening dish of Basel's Fasnacht carnival.

Ingredients

80g all-purpose flour
3 tbsp butter
2 large onions, finely diced
1L beef broth
200ml red wine
100g Gruyère, grated
Salt, pepper, nutmeg
Crusty bread for serving

Instructions

1 Melt butter in a heavy pot. Add onions and cook slowly until deeply browned, about 15 min.
2 Add flour and stir continuously over medium heat until the flour turns a deep nutty brown, about 10 min. This is crucial for flavor.
3 Gradually whisk in beef broth, avoiding lumps. Add red wine.
4 Simmer for 30 min, stirring occasionally.
5 Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
6 Serve in bowls topped with a generous handful of grated Gruyère and crusty bread.

Did You Know?

At exactly 4 AM on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, the lights of Basel go out and Fasnacht begins — the first meal served is always Mehlsuppe.