Vegan French Onion Soup
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!
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegan butter (see notes)
- 5 medium (1000 g) onions sliced
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) red wine (see notes)
- 1/2 cup (100 g) red lentils (see notes)
- 5 cups (1200 ml) 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 (180 g) vegan cheese of choice
Instructions
- This recipe has a video for easy visual instructions.
- Heat vegan butter in a large pot over medium heat and add the onions. Cook on low to medium heat until soft and caramelized, about 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes to avoid burning. After about 20 minutes, add salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the onions are caramelized and soft, add garlic and thyme and sauté for about 1 minute.
- Stir in the wine and let simmer for about 5-6 minutes or until the wine is reduced almost completely. Add the lentils (if you don't want to use lentils, you can thicken the soup now with 2 tbsp of flour or cornstarch) and also add the vegetable broth, and bay leaves.
- Bring the soup to a boil and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the lentils are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, slice your favorite bread (check my Gluten-Free Bread Recipe) and pick your favorite vegan cheese. I made my Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce.
- Once the soup is done, carefully remove the bay leaves. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings. Add more salt/pepper/thyme to taste and also add tamari or soy sauce.
- Preheat the broiler and toast the bread until nicely brown. Add vegan cheese on top.
- Pour the soup into oven-safe small bowls. Place one to two slices of bread on top of each soup bowl. Place the bowls under the broiler for a couple of minutes or until the cheese gets bubbly.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use vegan margarine or oil (e.g. olive oil) instead of vegan butter.
- Use a dry red wine. White wine is fine as well. If you don't want to use wine, simply skip it and use 2-3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar instead.
- I used red lentils to add a healthy twist to this French Onion Soup. Lentils will thicken the soup, and they also add healthy plant-based protein. If you don't want to use lentils, I would suggest thickening the soup with 2 tbsp of flour (or cornstarch).
- Feel free to add more herbs or spices of choice. I sometimes also add rosemary and red pepper flakes.
- Recipe serves 4. Nutrition facts are for one serving.
Nutrition Facts
Vegan French Onion Soup
Amount per Serving
Calories
444
% Daily Value*
Fat
15
g
23
%
Saturated Fat
5
g
25
%
Carbohydrates
58
g
19
%
Fiber
12
g
48
%
Sugar
9
g
10
%
Protein
12
g
24
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.