Calorie content is completely dependent upon ingredients and how it is made but that being said, ON AVERAGE a serving of 1 CUP (8 oz.) without cheese or croutons is about 80 calories (Example Panera Bread's version is 80 calories without cheese or croutons)
Add cheese and croutons and of course the calories will increase, a LOT!
For instance, Ruby Tuesday's Baked French Onion soup is 547 Calories!!!! That's a BIG difference and it includes the cheese and croutons and is about 2 cups of soup per serving.
Applebee's serving of their French Onion soup comes in at 388 calories.
A cup of Progresso's French Onion soup, with a slice of diet bread (toasted) and a slice of reduced fat cheese (see the Hungry Girl's Recipe Link provided) comes in at 170 Calories.
There's no perfect answer for this other than to think in terms of keeping the cheese and croutons off to get a minimum amount of calories!
"Cream of onion" definitely has cream in. Whereas "onion soup" may not; it's more likely to be French Onion style soup.
french onion soup
There are some great recipes of French onion soup on www.foodnetwork.com. The website also gives ratings and reviews on French onion soup recipes. These recipes are easy to follow and provide accurate ingredients and cooking times needed to make a French onion soup.
French onion soup does not always come in a lion's head bowl. When it does, it's because of tradition. Lion's head bowls are designed in a classic French style. Many restaurants in the United States serve French onion soup in ramekins.
In French, "onion soup" is feminine: "la soupe à l'oignon."
about 10 euros
soupe à l'oignon
Traditionally, it has melted gruyere cheese on top, which is French.
Some delicious recipes that feature red onion soup as a key ingredient include French onion soup, red onion and goat cheese tart, and red onion soup with gruyere cheese croutons.
Julia child's recipe uses Merlot, with its lower tannins, in her French Onion Soup recipe. I've found none better.
The French Chef - 1962 Your Own French Onion Soup 1-3 was released on: USA: 1 January 1965
A Frenchman.