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    Home » Recipes » Grateful Grazer

    Published: Oct 27, 2020 · Modified: Mar 11, 2022 by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Portobello Mushroom French Onion Soup

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This vegetarian French Onion Soup is made with chunky portobello mushrooms for meaty flavor and texture in a vegetable-based broth.

    Vegetarian French Onion Soup with portobello mushrooms in a white soup crock on a wood board.

    There's really no such thing as "soup season" in my world. Soup is the most comforting and satisfying meal. It's a good choice at any time of year.

    I will say, though, warm crocks of French Onion Soup with melty cheese are especially delicious when you're in need of a warm-up. With year-round produce like onions and mushrooms, this is also something you can easily find the ingredients for no matter the season, even if it's the middle of winter.

    Horizontal image of white soup crocks with mushroom onion soup.

    Ingredients

    Here's the grocery list with everything you'll need to make vegetarian French Onion Soup:

    • Oil to coat the pot while sautéeing (I use grapeseed oil)
    • Onions (I prefer mild, sweet onions, such as Vidalia, for this recipe)
    • Shallot (optional, but I like the sweet flavor it adds)
    • Portobello mushrooms (large caps)
    • Vegetable/mushroom broth (you can also make your own broth from vegetable scraps)
    • Fresh rosemary
    • Baguette or any type of sliced bread
    • Vegetarian Gruyere cheese (substitute with swiss, provolone, or mozzarella if you can't find Gruyere)
    • Fresh thyme leaves (optional for garnishing at the end)

    For equipment, remember you'll also need oven-safe soup crocks if you want to melt the cheese on top of the soup under the broiler. (If you're not able to buy them in time, I'll explain how you can make French Onion Soup with regular bowls later on, too!)

    Mushrooms, onions, rosemary, shallot, and vegetable broth on white marble.

    Instructions

    The first step for making vegetarian French Onion Soup is to sauté the onions. You can make the soup in a large stockpot or a Dutch oven. First, preheat the pot over medium heat, and then add the oil. Stir in the sliced onions and cook them for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally, or until they're soft and beginning to turn golden brown.

    Once the onions are cooked, stir in the sliced shallot and chopped portobello mushrooms, and cook for about five minutes, or until the mushrooms turn dark brown.

    Now it's time to add the liquids. Pour in vegetable broth (or mushroom broth) and water. Stir in a few sprigs of fresh rosemary for flavor. Then, cover the pot and bring the liquid to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for ten minutes, or until the onions are fully cooked and the flavors all meld together.

    Horizontal image of chopped portobello mushrooms and fresh rosemary sprigs on a wood cutting board.

    Do you love French Onion Soup with melted cheese on top? Me too, it's the best. This is a quick and easy way to do it.

    Preheat your oven broiler and spread sliced bread (I like to use a baguette) on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and toast under the broiler for a couple of minutes on each side. Remove the toasted bread from the oven and set aside.

    Next, arrange oven-safe soup crocks on the baking sheet. Divide the cooked French Onion Soup between the crocks. Place a piece of toasted baguette and a slice of cheese on top of each bowl of soup.

    Carefully return the baking sheet with the soup crocks to the oven and broil two minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove soups from the oven and garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired.

    Note that the soup crocks will be very hot when they come out of the oven. Serve the soup on plates or wait a few minutes before serving so they can cool down a little bit.

    Closeup of French Onion Soup in a white crock with loaf of bread behind it.

    Can you make this recipe ahead of time? How do you store it?

    If you want to make this vegetarian French Onion Soup ahead of time, I recommend cooking the soup up until the point that you toast the bread.

    Store the cooked French Onion Soup in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to four days (You can also freeze the soup for up to three months.)

    Once you're ready, divide the soup into crocks and toast the bread and melt the cheese immediately before serving.

    Is Gruyere cheese vegetarian?

    Some cheeses, including Gruyere, can be made with rennet, an enzyme from calves, which means it's technically not vegetarian. Some brands (such as Boar’s Head) make vegetarian Gruyere cheese without animal-derived rennet.

    If you're not able to find suitable Gruyere cheese, you can substitute swiss, provolone, or mozzarella cheese instead. (Dairy-free cheese alternatives work great, too!)

    Can you make this recipe without oven-safe soup crocks?

    If you don't have oven-safe soup crocks, you can make this recipe with one simple change to the instructions. Cook the soup like normal and divide it between bowls. Top each with a piece of toasted bread and the sliced cheese. Working in batches, microwave each soup crock for 20 seconds, or until the cheese is melted.

    Two white crocks of onion soup topped with toasted bread and melted cheese.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Vegan/Dairy Free Variation: Omit cheese or substitute dairy-free cheese slices.
    • Gluten-Free Variation: Omit bread or substitute sliced gluten-free bread.
    • If you don't have portobello mushrooms, substitute baby bella or crimini mushrooms.
    • Instead of Gruyere cheese, use sliced swiss, mozzarella, or provolone.
    • If you don't have fresh rosemary sprigs, substitute one tablespoon of dry crushed rosemary.

    Best Recipes to Make with Vegetarian French Onion Soup:

    • Roasted Cabbage Caesar Salad
    • Harvest Za'atar Kale Salad
    • Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
    • Roasted Beet and Apple Sandwiches
    • One-Pot Butter Beans and Greens
    Two bowls of French onion soup in white crocks on a wood board.

    Portobello Mushroom French Onion Soup

    This vegetarian version of French Onion Soup is made with chunky portobello mushrooms, which add meaty flavor and texture to the vegetable-based broth.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Stephanie McKercher, RDN

    Equipment

    • Stockpot or Dutch oven
    • Oven-safe soup crocks
    • rimmed baking sheet
    • Broiler

    Ingredients

    • 4 tablespoons grapeseed oil or as needed to coat pot
    • 2 medium sweet onions, sliced
    • 1 shallot, sliced (optional)
    • 2 large portobello mushroom caps, chopped into 1 ½-inch pieces
    • 4 cups vegetable broth or mushroom broth
    • 1 cup water
    • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 4 slices baguette or sliced bread of choice
    • 4 slices vegetarian Gruyere cheese (see note)
    • Fresh thyme leaves (optional)

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until softened and starting to brown. Stir in shallot and mushrooms and cook 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms turn dark brown.
    • Pour in broth and water and stir in rosemary sprigs. Cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, or until the onions are fully cooked and the flavors meld together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • In the meantime, preheat the broiler and spread baguette slices on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to the oven and toast bread 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside. (Leave the broiler on because you will use it again.)
    • Arrange 4 oven-safe soup crocks on the baking sheet. Divide the soup between the crocks. Place a piece of toasted baguette and slice of Gruyere cheese on top of each. Carefully return the baking sheet with the soup crocks to the oven and broil 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired, and allow to cool slightly before serving. (The soup crocks will be very hot. Serve on plates if desired.)

    Notes

    Store leftover soup in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months. Toast bread and melt cheese immediately before serving.
     
    Gruyere cheese can be made with animal rennet but some brands (such as Boar’s Head) make vegetarian versions. If you can’t find suitable Gruyere cheese, substitute swiss, provolone, or mozzarella.
     
    Vegan/dairy-free variation: Omit cheese or substitute dairy-free cheese slices.
     
    Gluten-free variation: Omit bread or substitute sliced gluten-free bread.
     
    If you don't have oven-safe soup crocks, melt the cheese on top of the soup in the microwave for about 20 seconds instead of broiling. 
    Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @GratefulGrazer or tag #gratefulgrazer.

    If you tried this recipe, please leave a star-rating on the recipe card above. Your feedback is appreciated!

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    French Onion Soup in a white crock with text that reads, "Vegetarian Portobello Mushroom French Onion Soup - find the full recipe on GratefulGrazer.com"

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    1. velma says

      October 15, 2022 at 6:25 pm

      Was interested in trying this recipe but it doesnt seem possible to make french onions soup in 40 minutes. Onions need to be caramelized for a french onion soup and caramezation can take up to 2 hours. This soup may be tasty, but wouldn't give the same flavors a French onion soup would.

      Reply
      • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

        October 25, 2022 at 1:58 pm

        Hi Velma, thanks for your comment. I wanted to create a version that is as convenient and accessible as possible. I'll consider your comment next time I test this recipe and will potentially increase the cooking time. In the meantime, feel free to cook the onions until they reach your desired level of caramelization.

        Reply

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