Cheese and Beer Soup | Emeril Lagasse

Emeril’s super rich and creamy cheese and beer soup gets extra flavor from kielbasa and cheesy croutons. Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds! CHEESE AND BEER SOUP SERVES 6 TO 8 3 tablespoons olive oil 8 3-inch pieces kielbasa sausage 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon Emeril’s Essence Creole Seasoning 2 tablespoons butter 6 tablespoons flour 2 bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh thyme 6 cups chicken stock 2 cups dark beer 2 cups cubed Gruyere cheese, plus more finely grated, for garnish 2 tablespoons minced chives or flat-leaf parsley, garnish Croutons, for garnish (recipe follows) Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot. Add kielbasa and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, about 4 minutes per side. The sausage will not be cooked through, it will finish cooking in the soup. Remove kielbasa from pot and set aside. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, salt, pepper, and Essence. Cook, stirring, occ