Vegan French Onion Soup

🛒 Ingredients

• #Soup Base;
• 1 kg yellow or sweet onions, thinly sliced.. 3 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
• 1 tsp sugar (helps caramelise evenly).. 1 tbsp all‑purpose flour (optional, for slight thickness)
• 150 ml dry white wine or extra vegetable stock
• 1.2 litres rich homemade vegetable broth (add a pinch of mushroom powder or soy sauce for extra depth)
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme.. 1 bay leaf
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar (optional, to brighten the flavour)
• #Optional Classic Finish;
• 4 slices crusty baguette, toasted
• 80–100 g melted vegan gruyère or mozzarella‑style cheese

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Caramelise the onions: Heat olive oil or vegan butter in a large heavy‑based pot over medium‑low heat. Add the sliced onions and sugar, stir well, and cook slowly for 25–30 minutes, stirring every few minutes — let them turn deep golden and sweet, never rush this step with high heat.

2. 2

   Build richness: Sprinkle over the flour (if using) and stir for 1 minute to cook out the raw taste. Pour in the wine and scrape the bottom of the pot to lift all the delicious caramelised bits. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until reduced slightly.

3. 3

   Simmer: Add the vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes to let all the flavours meld. Stir in balsamic vinegar if using, then remove the bay leaf and thyme stems.

4. 4

   Serve simply or classically: Ladle into warm bowls. For the classic style, top each bowl with a slice of toasted baguette and melted vegan cheese, then garnish with fresh thyme leaves. Enjoy hot.