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Vegan French Onion Soup with Crispy Cheesy Baguette Toppers Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 118 reviews

This vegan French onion soup offers a rich and comforting twist on the classic dish using caramelized onions, a deeply flavorful vegetable broth, toasted baguette slices, and a stretchy, gooey vegan cashew cheese topping. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup combines the sweetness of slowly caramelized onions with the umami of herbs and wine, all topped with deliciously melted vegan cheese to bring a hearty, satisfying experience without any dairy or animal products.

Ingredients

Scale

Soup

  • 6 large yellow onions
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (or broth)
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • additional salt, to taste

Bread

  • 1 baguette, sliced

Vegan Cheese Topping

  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons tapioca starch

Instructions

  1. Caramelize the Onions: Peel and thinly slice the onions. In a large pot, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and toss to coat in the oil. Cook, stirring often, for 15 minutes until they soften. Increase the heat to medium-high and continue cooking, stirring every few minutes, until the onions start to brown, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle sugar and 1 teaspoon salt over the onions and cook for another 10-15 minutes until deeply caramelized.
  2. Prepare the Soup Base: Add the minced garlic to the caramelized onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for a minute to remove the raw flour taste. Pour in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the vegetable broth, fresh thyme leaves, bay leaf, and ground black pepper. Stir well, bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and adjust salt to taste.
  3. Toast the Baguette: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the baguette into pieces and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toast the slices in the oven for about 5-7 minutes until they turn a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  4. Make the Vegan Cheese Topping: Soak the raw cashews in about 1 cup of boiling hot water for at least 5 minutes to soften. Drain the cashews and add them to a blender along with 1 1/2 cups fresh water, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and tapioca starch. Blend until completely smooth. Pour the mixture into a small pot over medium-high heat and stir constantly. The mixture will thicken and become stretchy and gooey, resembling melted cheese. Remove from heat immediately to avoid overcooking.
  5. Assemble and Broil: Spoon a generous amount of the vegan cheese topping onto each toasted baguette slice placed on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the pan under the oven broiler for a few minutes until the cheese topping bubbles and becomes slightly browned. Alternatively, ladle hot soup into oven-safe bowls, top each with a toast and cheese, and broil on a baking sheet for a few minutes.
  6. Serve: Serve the hot soup with the cheesy toasts either on top of the bowl or alongside, allowing the rich flavors and melted vegan cheese to complement the caramelized onions and savory broth perfectly.

Notes

  • For best caramelization, be patient and stir frequently to avoid burning the onions.
  • If you prefer a nut-free vegan cheese, experiment with alternatives like potato starch-based melts or store-bought vegan cheese.
  • The white wine can be substituted with additional vegetable broth for an alcohol-free version.
  • Use oven-safe bowls if broiling the assembled soup to prevent cracking or damage.
  • Store leftovers in airtight containers; the vegan cheese topping can harden upon cooling and may need to be reheated with some liquid to regain stretchiness.

Keywords: vegan french onion soup, vegan soup, caramelized onion soup, dairy free french onion, vegan comfort food, dairy free cheese topping

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/vegan-french-onion-soup-with-crispy-cheesy-baguette-toppers-recipe/