French onion soup is a classic and gets its flavor from deeply caramelized onions. This vegan version has every bit of the flavor, with only a fraction of the fat. Topped with sourdough bread and vegan mozzarella, I think you are going to be amazed by its incredibly warm texture and taste.
Begin by slicing the onions into thin crescents. The thickness really depends on personal preference.
In a large pot, saute onions in 1/2 cup of veggie broth or water until they begin to heavily brown.
Add half of the red wine (1/4 cup) and minced garlic. Continue to brown the onions for about 3-5 minutes on low heat. Add a little more water if needed. Scrape down the bottom of the pan to release all of the flavors of caramelizing onions. The alcohol cooks out of this.
Next, add the other half of the red wine and continue cooking for approximately 3-5 minutes. Onions should be thickly browning, but not sticking to the bottom.
Add remaining ingredients to pot–4 cups water, soy sauce, balsamic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low for approximately 15-20 minutes. While this is cooking, begin making Vegan Mozzarella Cashew Cheese Topping.
Pour the soup into oven-safe bowls. Top with pieces of sourdough bread. Then finish off with a large dollop of the mozzarella topping. Place the soup crocks on a baking sheet and broil in oven for approximately 3 minutes, or until tops are brown and bubbly.
Vegan Mozzarella Topping
White beans can be substituted for cashews in this recipe to make it nut-free. Personally, I love the cashew version because the flavor is out of this world. However, I understand completely that some folks have nut allergies or heart disease and are staying away from nuts. Thankfully, white beans do a good job of substituting in this cashew cheese recipe. Just keep in mind that the outcome will taste a bit different.
I don’t soak my cashews for this recipe because I have a Vitamix blender that does a great job of getting them nice and creamy. However, if your blender is less powerful, you’ll likely need to soak the cashews in hot water for at least 30 minutes.
Place all of the mozzarella cheese ingredients in a blender or food processor and process on high until nice and smooth.
Pour the blended cheese into a saucepan and begin heating slowly and whisking together as it warms. This will happen pretty quickly, so do not leave it unattended. Stir it nearly constantly until it reaches the desired thickness and stretchiness.
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Your Questions Answered:
Q: What is the difference between onion soup and French onion soup? At my house, onion soup is simply caramelized onions with an added assortment of veggies and seasonings. But, French onion soup will always be a base of onions with delicious toppings of sourdough bread and dairy-free mozzarella cheese.
Q: What can I use instead of red wine or sherry? If you don’t have red wine on hand, you could sub out red wine vinegar or even rice vinegar. Even apple cider vinegar will work in a pinch.
Q: Do I have to make the mozzarella cheese to go with this? Nope, the mozzarella can be left out. However, I think it’s a very important part and so highly recommend it.