Vegan Gravy with Caramelized Onions
User Reviews
5
Vegan Gravy with Caramelized Onions
Description
The Vegan Gravy with Caramelized Onions focuses on extracting deep flavor from slowly caramelized onions paired with roasted garlic. Onions are cooked gently in olive oil with salt, bay leaves, and rosemary for up to three hours until they develop a sweet brown color. Roasting whole garlic heads in olive oil softens and sweetens them, contributing mellow garlic flavor to the gravy. The mixture is then combined with vegetable broth and water to create a smooth, aromatic sauce.
The result is a rich, vegan gravy with nicely balanced savory and sweet notes from the caramelized onions and herbs. The flavor profile is gentle but full, achieved through patient, low-temperature cooking. This gravy can enhance many plant-based entrees or sides, providing moisture and depth.
Because the caramelization step varies with heat and pot size, monitoring the onions is important to achieve the desired sweetness without burning. The recipe yields about 3 cups, enough for twelve quarter-cup servings, making it versatile for small or larger gatherings. It can also be multiplied, though larger quantities require more time to caramelize evenly.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 4 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons salt sea salt
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 rosemary sprig, destemmed and roughly chopped
- 2 garlic bulb heads
- ½ cup vegetable broth or white wine
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Heat 1 ½ TB olive oil in a large, heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt, bay leaves, and rosemary. Cover pan, and cook about 5 minutes until the onions begin to appear translucent.
- Remove lid, and cook over low or medium-low until the onions begin to brown and caramelize. Stir periodically while cooking.Tip: The lower the heat, the sweeter the onions will be (but it will also take longer!). Time Frame: This step will take anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on the heat level and size of pot. Check on the onions occasionally-- stirring once an hour for low heat, once every 30 minutes for medium-low, until the onions begin to caramelize.
- Meanwhile, cut the pointed tip off two heads of garlic. (Cut the top, not the end with the root.) Remove some of the outer papery skin.
- Set garlic on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle about ½ TB olive oil over the garlic heads, sprinkle with salt, and fold the foil over the garlic. Roast for 45-50 minutes, or until the garlic is golden.
- Let the garlic cool slightly, and then push on the bottom of the garlic to remove the cloves. Set them aside.
- When the onions begin to caramelize, add the garlic, and mash it with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Add the broth (or wine), and stir-- scraping up any bits of onion stuck to the pan. Add the water, and bring to a simmer.
- Taste broth, and add additional salt if needed. Remove the bay leaves.
- If desired, pour gravy into a blender (or into the cup of an immersion blender), and blend until smooth. Serve warm.
- Make Ahead:Refrigerate: Store in a sealed container, and use within 3-4 days.Freeze: Store in a sealed container, and use within 3-4 months.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly at low heat, stirring occasionally, to develop natural sweetness without burning.
- Roast garlic heads wrapped in foil with olive oil for about 45 minutes to soften and mellow their flavor.
- Yields approximately 3 cups of gravy, sufficient for about twelve ¼ cup servings.
- The caramelization time varies depending on pot size and heat level; larger batches take longer.
- Can easily be doubled or tripled; just expect longer cooking for caramelizing more onions.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 36 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 36kcal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Sodium | 430mg | 18% |
| Potassium | 53mg | 1% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 20IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 2.9mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 11mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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