Vegetarian French Onion Soup with Turmeric & Herb Broth

Total time1 hr 30 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time1 hr 15 min

Vegetarian French Onion Soup with Turmeric & Herb Broth

Deeply caramelized onions are the heart of this one, cooked low and slow until they turn jammy and golden-brown, then layered with garlic, thyme, and a warm hit of turmeric for color and depth. A splash of apple cider vinegar brightens the whole pot before it simmers down into a richly flavored, savory broth. Crisp whole-grain toasts float on top of each bowl, piled high with Gruyère and broiled until melted, bubbling, and browned in spots. A scatter of fresh parsley finishes it off with a little color and freshness. It's a cozy, restaurant-style classic that turns out to be a genuinely solid pick for a vegetarian kitchen, no fuss required.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the soup

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Private Selection Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Bertolli Extra Virgin D'Italiia Olive Oil 16.9oz
Extra Virgin Olive Oil FIELD DAY OLIVE OIL EXTRA VIRGIN Olitalia Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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3 lbs yellow onions (about 5 medium), halved and thinly sliced
½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
5 cups low-sodium beef broth
Chef's tip
Use the same amount of low-sodium vegetable broth. The dish will taste lighter and less meaty; a mushroom-rich vegetable broth gives the closest beefy flavor.
1 tbsp coconut aminos

For the toasts

8 slices whole-grain baguette or whole-grain bread (about ½-inch thick)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 oz gruyère cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)

For serving

1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the sliced onions and 1/2 tsp salt, stirring to coat. Cook, stirring every 5–7 minutes, for 45–55 minutes, until the onions are deeply golden-brown and jammy throughout — they should reduce to roughly one-quarter of their original volume. Adjust the heat to medium-low if the onions begin to scorch at the edges before they are fully softened.
2
Push the onions to the sides of the pot and add the minced garlic to the center. Cook for 1 minute, stirring, until fragrant. Stir in the thyme, bay leaf, turmeric, and black pepper and cook for 30 seconds, until the spices are fragrant and evenly coat the onions.

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