Vegan French Onion Soup with Caramelized Onions
Silky vegan take on French onion soup with deeply caramelized golden onions, vegetable broth, and fresh thyme. Topped with toasted bread slices and melted vegan cheese. Ready in under an hour with minimal hands-on time after the initial caramelization.
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ lb yellow onions, peeled and sliced into half rings
- 3 ½ tbsp vegan butter
- 2 tablespoon wheat flour
- 2 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf, dried
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- black pepper(optional)
- 1 whole grain baguette
- vegan cheese, grated(optional)nutritional yeast2 tablespoon per servingveganwhole-graindairy-free
adds umami but less melty texture
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Instructions
- 1
Peel and slice onions into half rings
- 2
Heat vegan butter in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot
- 3
Sear onions over high heat
- 4
Reduce heat to medium and caramelize onions for 30 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent sticking
- 5
Sprinkle flour over onions and stir through
- 6
Strip thyme leaves from stems and add with bay leaf to onions
- 7
Pour in vegetable broth and bring to boil
- 8
Simmer gently for 15 minutes
- 9
Remove bay leaf
- 10
Taste and season with salt and pepper
- 11
Preheat oven to 400°F and slice bread
- 12
Top bread slices with vegan cheese
Tips
Stir onions frequently during caramelization to develop deep color and prevent burning
Use a heavy-bottomed pot to distribute heat evenly and prevent scorching
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat gently on stovetop.
Prepare through step 10 up to 2 days ahead. Toast bread and add cheese just before serving.
Ladle soup into bowls and top with one slice of cheese-topped bread.
Common Mistakes
Rush the caramelization to avoid pale, under-developed onions
Stir frequently during caramelization to avoid burning on the bottom
Remove bay leaf before serving to avoid choking hazard
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
adds umami but less melty texture
Full guide →