I write so often on soup or how much I enjoy it, so when my daughter mentioned French onion soup sounded good, I had to jump on that thought! Since I choose to not eat meat or use any part of the animal you may think I will miss out on a good bowl since a nice base and caramelizing the onions make or break this soup, but in my opinion if you do the vegetarian verson right it can be so delicious.
As you can see, I bought vegetable stock making this a faster version.
After you caramelize your onions you may add them in a slow cooker, (what a great smell and dish to come to home.)
Vegetarian French Onion Soup:
2 32 ounces of good vegetable stock base
6 yellow onions
2 Tablespoon of olive oil
2 Tablespoons of butter
1-2 Teaspoons of sugar
1-2 Tablespoons of vegetarian friendly browning sauce
In a large pot over medium/high heat add your olive oil and butter then your onions. Cook your onions, you can use some salt to draw out your moisture but for me halfway through cooking the onions I add a little sugar then finished the process. To caramelize the onions, it can take at least 20 minutes, so don’t rush it all you have to do is watch and occasionally stir the onions around the pan.
After you are done with the onions remove from heat and pour them in a slow cooker, add base and browning sauce. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
If you are finishing the soup on the stove top, turn to a low simmer add base and browning sauce. Cover letting simmer on low for about 1 1/2 hours.
Pour in bowls top with gruyere cheese or mozzarella, provolone, parmesan is a few substitutions for the gruyere, but you can substitute any cheese you like best.
If you would like, pour soup in bowls that can take a broiler then when you top the soup with cheese place in the broiler for a few minutes until the cheese is nice lightly brown and bubbly
This soup is so delicious with a baguette, but however you have it enjoy!
