Planetarian French Onion Soup
Prep time:
5 mins
Cook time:
45 mins
Total time:
50 mins
Yield: 6 people
Description
Its dark rich color and caramelized onion flavor makes Kitchen Basics vegetable broth ideal for this soup. If you can’t find it, no worries. The miso, sweet vermouth, and balsamic vinegar will intensify whatever broth you use.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 large sweet onions (about 2 1/2 pounds), halved and sliced thin
- 1 1/2 quart good quality vegetable broth, preferably Kitchen Basics, if you can find it
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup each: sweet vermouth and red miso
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 1 loaf European-style crusty bread, cut into enough 1/2-thick slices to cover 6 soup bowls
- 6 thin slices cheese, about 4 ounces, such as plant-based sharp cheddar or smoked Provolone or dairy-based Swiss or Provolone cheese
- 6 tablespoons grated plant-based or dairy Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil in a soup kettle over medium-high heat. Add onions: cook, stirring often, until dramatically reduced and light caramel colored, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; continue to cook onions, stirring frequently and scraping up any dark bits, until rich caramel color, 15 to 20 minutes longer.
- To speed up cooking time, microwave broth in a 2-quart Pyrex measuring cup until piping hot, about 5 minutes.
- When onions are fully cooked, stir in flour, then vermouth, and finally the hot broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and then simmer, partially covered, to blend flavors, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat, whisk in miso and balsamic vinegar. Taste and adjust seasonings, including salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm.
- Meanwhile, adjust oven to upper-middle position and turn on broiler. Place bread on a rimmed baking sheet and broil, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Remove from oven; top toasts with cheese, breaking cheese slices into pieces to fit; sprinkle with Parmesan. Return to the broiler and toast until cheese melts, just a minute or so.
- Ladle hot soup into bowls; top with cheese toast and serve immediately.