Vegan French Onion Soup Recipe

Name: Vegan French Onion Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp vegan butter ((see notes)); 5 medium onions (sliced); 3-4 garlic cloves (minced); 1/2 cup red wine ((see notes)); 1/2 cup red lentils ((see notes)); 5 cups vegetable broth; 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried); 2 bay leaves; 1 1/2 tsp sea salt (or more to taste); Black ground pepper (to taste); 1 tbsp tamari (or soy sauce); 1/2 baguette (or bread of choice (gluten-free if needed)); 6 oz vegan cheese (of choice)

By Ela on 28. November, 2019 | 32 Comments. This post may contain affiliate links*. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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4.93 from 14 votes

This easy vegan French onion soup recipe is hearty, comforting, and very tasty. Caramelized onions, red wine, and fresh thyme add lots of flavors. The soup is topped with the most delicious plant-based cheese baguette!

Homemade Vegan French Onion Soup

Hello! I am back with another delicious onion recipe! You guys loved my Caramelized Onion Tart so much, therefore, I decided to share this French onion soup recipe with you!

Onions – either you hate them or love them. I LOVE them and enjoy them almost daily. Not only are they very healthy (read further down below for more information), but they also add a very nice flavor to almost all savory dishes. Especially caramelized onions. They are so damn good!

This recipe is not a traditional French onion soup because I added a healthy twist, which you might love as much as I do.

How To Make Vegan French Onion Soup?

As mentioned before, this is not a classic or original French onion soup because I love to add a healthy and unique twist to all my recipes. Most French onion soups are quite boring in my opinion, therefore, I added red lentils to the soup. I will tell you later why I did it.

Now, let’s see how easy this soup recipe is. Full instructions and measurements are in the recipe card below!

STEP 1: You will need to caramelize the onions first. This step takes quite a while but is very important, as we want the onions nicely caramelized and flavorful. Don’t rush and turn the heat too high because this might burn the onions, and we don’t want that.

STEP 2: Once the onions are nicely caramelized and soft, you can add the garlic and thyme. I used fresh thyme but feel free to use dry thyme.

STEP 3: Add the wine and let simmer until reduced almost completely. Also, add the lentils, veggie broth, and bay leaves. If you don’t want to use lentils, you can thicken the soup now with 2 tbsp of flour or cornstarch. Bring the soup to a boil and let it cook on low heat for about 20 minutes or until the lentils are tender.

STEP 4: Meanwhile, slice your favorite bread and pick your favorite vegan cheese. I made my Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce which takes less than 5 minutes. Toast the bread until nicely brown and add cheese on top once the soup is done.

STEP 5: Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings. Add more salt/pepper/thyme to taste and also add tamari or soy sauce.

STEP 6: Pour the soup into oven-safe small bowls. Place one to two slices of bread on top of each soup bowl. You can add even more vegan cheese of choice (e.g. vegan mozzarella). Place the bowls under the broiler for a couple of minutes or until the cheese gets bubbly. Serve immediately.

Why Red Lentils?

Lentils will slightly thicken the soup and furthermore add healthy plant-based protein. They add an interesting touch to this vegan French onion soup and make it even more delicious, in my opinion. If you aren’t a fan of lentils, simply leave them out. You can easily thicken the soup with flour or cornstarch.

Are Onions Healthy?

Absolutely! Onions are super healthy. They contain lots of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. In this article, I read about 9 incredible health benefits of onions which I want to share with you.

1. Packed With Nutrients

Onions are low in calories yet high in nutrients, including vitamin C, B vitamins and potassium.

2. May Benefit Heart Health

Research shows that eating onions may help reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels and inflammation.

3. Loaded With Antioxidants

Red onions are rich in anthocyanins, which are powerful plant pigments that may protect against heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes.

4. Contain Cancer-Fighting Compounds

A diet rich in allium vegetables like onions may have a protective effect against certain cancers.

5. Help Control Blood Sugar

Due to the many beneficial compounds found in onions, consuming them may help reduce high blood sugar.

Read the full article to find out what the other impressive health benefits of onions are.

This Vegan French Onion Soup Is:

Plant-based (dairy-free)
Gluten-free (if using gluten-free bread)
Soy-free
Satisfying
Comforting
Flavorful
Perfect for the holidays as an appetizer
Healthier than most French onion soups
Easy to make

Should you give this French onion soup a try, please leave a comment and rating below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I love to see your remake! 🙂

For more savory holiday dishes, check out the following delicious healthy vegan recipes: