Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a rich and savory vegetarian French Onion Soup?

The secret is to add an ingredient that mimics the deep, umami flavor of a traditional beef broth. The brilliant and healthy hack in this recipe is the addition of cooked lentils . The earthy, savory lentils add a wonderful, "meaty" flavor and a satisfying body to the vegetable broth, making it taste incredibly rich and complex.

Q2: How do I caramelize my onions without them burning?

The key is low heat and patience . Do not rush the process! By cooking your onions slowly over a medium-low to low heat, you are allowing their natural sugars to gently break down and caramelize, which creates that signature, deep, jammy, and incredibly sweet flavor. High heat will simply brown or burn them.

Q3: Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead soup! You can prepare the entire soup base and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat, you can simply reheat the soup and then do the final, quick broiling step with the bread and cheese.

Q4: Can I freeze this soup?

Yes, the soup base (without the cheese topping) freezes beautifully! Let it cool completely, and then you can store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat, you can thaw the soup base, bring it to a simmer, and then proceed with the final broiling step.

Q5: Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes! To make this recipe completely vegan, simply be sure to use olive oil or a vegan butter substitute to caramelize your onions. For the topping, use a high-quality brand of vegan Gruyère and Parmesan cheese substitutes. You will also need to ensure that your Worcestershire sauce is certified vegan , as many traditional brands contain anchovies.

Vegetarian French Onion Soup (Easy & Cheesy!)

A hearty and flavorful vegetarian version of classic French Onion Soup, made more substantial with the addition of cooked lentils. This one-pot recipe features thinly sliced onions that are slowly caramelized in a Dutch oven to create a sweet, rich flavor base. The soup is then built with white wine, vegetable broth, and herbs. For the classic finish, the soup is ladled into oven-safe bowls, topped with pieces of toasted bread and a blend of Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses, and then broiled until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons olive oil
3-4 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 teaspoons minced garlic
2 medium bay leaves
6 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
2 cups cooked lentils
6 slices of bread, toasted
1 cup grated vegetarian Gruyère cheese
1/4 cup grated vegetarian Parmesan cheese
Fresh thyme, for garnish

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the salt and sugar to the onions, and continue cooking for another 12-15 minutes, stirring more frequently as they brown, until the onions are deeply caramelized and sweet.
Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pot. Add the minced garlic and bay leaves, and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the vegetable broth, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cooked lentils. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
While the soup simmers, toast the bread slices and cut them into pieces that will fit in your bowls.
Preheat the broiler to 400°F.
Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Divide the soup evenly among 4 oven-safe bowls.
Cover the top of the soup in each bowl with the toasted bread pieces and top with the Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses.
Carefully place the bowls under the broiler and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
Sprinkle with fresh thyme, serve immediately, and enjoy.

Notes

The key to this soup’s deep, rich flavor is taking the time to properly caramelize the onions. This process should not be rushed and requires frequent stirring towards the end to prevent burning.
The addition of cooked lentils makes this vegetarian version much heartier and more of a complete meal than the traditional recipe.
Ensure you are using oven-safe bowls before placing them under the broiler.

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/vegetarian-french-onion-soup/