Soy Free Vegan Caramelized Onion Gravy

Total time55 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time45 min

Deeply caramelized onions are the whole point here, patiently cooked down until they turn jammy, sweet, and richly golden before garlic, fresh thyme, and a spoonful of tomato paste get stirred in to build a savory backbone. A sprinkle of flour toasts right into the onions to form the base of the gravy, then vegetable broth gets whisked in until everything simmers down into a glossy, spoon-coating sauce with real depth. Black pepper rounds it out at the end, so what you're left with is a silky, umami-packed gravy that tastes like it took all day. It's the kind of topping that makes mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a holiday plate feel complete, and it comes together in one skillet with minimal cleanup. This one is a genuinely solid pick for a soy free table, so you can ladle it on generously without a second thought.

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Ingredients

4 servings

2 tbsp vegan butter
Earth Balance Soy Free Buttery Sticks Organic Dairy-Free Butter with Peruvian Salt, 10 oz Monty's Dairy Free Plant-Based Butter Original Wildbrine Wild Creamery Cultured & Plant Based European Style Butter Alternative Wildbrine Wild Creamery Cultured & Plant Based Oat Butter Alternative, Gluten Free
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1 tbsp olive oil
2 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tbsp vegan worcestershire sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
Chef's tip
Coconut aminos are sweeter and less salty; taste and adjust the seasoning.
black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1
Melt the vegan butter with the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat until the butter is fully melted and the mixture shimmers.
2
Add the sliced onions and salt, stirring to coat. Cook over medium heat, stirring every 3–4 minutes, until the onions are deeply golden and jammy, about 30–35 minutes. If the onions begin to stick or darken too quickly, reduce the heat to medium-low and add a splash of water. Stir in the sugar for the final 5 minutes to encourage even caramelization.

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