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4.94 from 16 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 Saucewhich 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:
- Caramelized Onion Tart
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
- Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
- Hearty Vegan Meatloaf
- Vegan Quiche
- Vegan Gravy
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks (Vegan Schnitzel)
Vegan French Onion Soup
Author: Michaela Vais
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!
4.94 from 16 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Entree, Soup
Cuisine French
Servings 4
Calories 444 kcal
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.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
Simple and Delicious Vegan Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!
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