Vegetarian French Onion Soup

This is a great, homey-tasting soup (I don't really know exactly what that means, but it kind of invokes the correct idea about it). Usually it is made from beef broth and wine, but when challenged to feed some vegetarian Mormons, we had to make some adjustments. I was pretty happy with the result. It certainly is not the flavor of a typical French onion soup, but it's one that I like. I think the onion flavor is much more prominent in this version, but it ends up feeling a little lighter overall.


Vegetarian French Onion Soup

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
  
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 5 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 leek or bunch green onions, thinly sliced (optional)
• A few tablespoons honey
  
• 8 cups vegetable broth (click here for a recipe)
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• salt and pepper to taste
• a splash of apple juice
• slices of french bread
• Swiss or provolone cheese slices
• grated Parmesan cheese

Melt the butter in a very large saucepan. Saute the garlic, then add the onions and leek. Drizzle some honey over the onions. Slowly cook for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, allowing them to caramelize until a nice golden color and translucent. Add the broth, herbs, and apple juice, and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

In the meanwhile, broil the bread with the cheese until melted and golden. Serve the soup in bowls with the toast on top, then sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.