Sweet And Savoury, Vegan Onion Bread Can Do It All

So many people all over the world are opting to live a vegan life. This could be for health reasons, dietary restrictions, animal and environmental issues or simply because they prefer it. But there’s one thing they all need, and that is new and interesting ideas for good food. Once upon a time, being vegan meant living a restricted life and subsisting on salads, but not anymore, people are constantly innovating and proving that being vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up on the joys of good food.

This simple Vegan Onion Bread proves that with every bite because even though it’s only made from a handful of ingredients, it encompasses a whole world of flavour. The recipe calls for shallots, but small sambar onions work just as well, and if you don’t have those, no worries, just chop regular onions into quarters. The simple process of confiting the onions lets them release their natural sugars for a sweet and almost jammy finish. And for an extra bonus, you can save the cooking oil that takes on all those delicious roasted notes and use it later.

The ideal bread to use in this recipe would be ciabatta for its soft but firm texture, but a baguette, sourdough or even a regular bakery loaf would work just as well. So if you’re already obsessed with making garlic bread for every snack, then this quick recipe will be right up your alley. And if you don’t have vegan butter lying around, just use a drizzle of olive oil or if you’re really feeling adventurous, sub in some nut butter and relish the amazing flavours that a vegan lifestyle can bring.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large loaf of bread 
  • 350 gm shallots, peeled
  • 1 stick of vegan butter or olive oil
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Oil 
  • Black pepper

Method:

  • Preheat an oven to 200°C.
  • Add your shallots (or onions) to a small pot and cover them with oil. 
  • Heat on a low flame until bubbling and golden on the outside. Test them with a knife, they should be soft in the centre before taking them off the flame.
  • Finely chop the onions and put them in a bowl with the butter, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well.
  • Slice your bread in half or into slices and liberally spread the onion mix on top.
  • Sprinkle a little parsley on top and then bake for 10-12 minutes until the bread is golden and crispy.
  • Serve alongside your favourite soup or enjoy it on its own.