From The Exclusive Collection of FREE Plant-Based Recipes
By Plant-Based Nutrition Professional Chef Susy • Designed For Effortless Weight Loss & Weight Maintenance
Easy Plant-Based Caramelised Onion Gravy
Dive into this easy vegan caramelised onion gravy that’s rich, savoury, and a true crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or just craving something delicious, this gravy will have everyone reaching for seconds! Pour it over mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or anything that needs a flavour boost 🤎
Prep Time: 5 Mins | Cook Time: 45 Mins
Total Time: 50 Mins | Servings: Adjustable
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For my family, it simply isn’t a proper Sunday roast without crispy roasted potatoes (or mashed!) and a nice, easy plant-based caramelised onion gravy. And if you’re a veteran vegan or someone who’s planning a plant-based, guilt-free dinner for the first time, great news! Meal prep couldn’t get any easier—and yummier, of course.
No more feeling left out in front of a huge feast while you graze over bread and salad. There are tons of awesome plant-based holiday foods that even omnivores will adore.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
So Basic but So Good
When in doubt, make onion gravy. It’s one of the simplest (but yummiest) dishes you will ever try. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love all those fancy gravies, too. But I think there’s just something extra special about easy recipes that turn out so good 🤍
Fun Fact: I generally live in my kitchen. Creating recipes, cooking, baking, cleaning, and whatnot. But when the holiday season comes, I like to put up a sleeping bag, too. It’s for that much-needed break, you know! 😜 So when I finally figured out a foolproof way to make gravy (without having to sit for hours to wait for the darn thing to thicken), I was over the moon, seriously.
You see, I choose to spend a ton of time in my kitchen—because it's literally my job! Developing delicious, nutritious recipes and keeping it simple for you. So you can get the job done in your kitchen in a fraction of the time!
Crowd-Pleaser
Everyone will enjoy this plant-based onion gravy. My guarantee. Vegan or non-vegan. Gluten-free or gluten-full. Carb-light or carb-lover. Or… you could be a new chef, a busy bee, or someone trying to get their homemade meals kid-approved. Trust me, this dish is a one-for-all!
Basically Everything You Need
Really. You will never want to go back after trying this plant-based caramelised onion gravy. Gluten-free, fulfilling, and low-calorie. Protein-rich and high in fibre. Easily customisable, for those who like gravy smooth or chunky. And simply too good.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
Large onions. The backbone of vegan onion gravy. I prefer sweet onion (sometimes yellow, sometimes red onion) for this recipe because they caramelise so well. White onions also work well. If you don’t have any onions at all, ½ to 1 teaspoon of onion powder can be used at a pinch.
Sherry. For that extra deep flavour. Don’t use sweet dessert sherries here. Look for a dry sherry (like Fino or Amontillado). See Tip 1👇🏼
Vegetable stock + Vegan Worcestershire sauce. Makes the base of the dish. Your favourite store-bought vegetable stock can be used, but make sure to look for a low-sodium option. You don’t want the flavour to be overly salty. I like Marigold organic reduced salt bouillon. Or, you can even make it at home—definitely a game-changer!
Thyme. Both fresh and dried are okay, but the quantities will vary (you will need 1 sprig fresh or ½ tsp if dried). Its sole purpose is to add a herbal touch that complements the sweetness of onions.
Dried tarragon. To give the dish a beautiful aroma. A French tarragon variety, particularly, is best, but dried works, too.
Corn flour. Thickens the gravy. You can also go for potato flour or a gluten-free flour blend. But don’t use plain all-purpose flour if you want the dish to be gluten-free. See Tip 2👇🏼
Salt and pepper. To round up the flavours. No one likes a bland gravy, after all.
Helpful Equipment
Knife
Pan
How to Make Vegan Caramelised Onion Gravy
Caramelise the onions. Add the sliced onions to a pan over medium heat. No oil needed here (See Tip 3👇🏼). Just stir frequently to prevent sticking. You will also start adding the vegetable stock here, spoon by spoon. It deglazes the pan and helps the onions to soften. Remember to keep the lid closed when caramelising the onions. Continue cooking for about 20 to 30 minutes (until the onions are golden and sweet). See Tip 4👇🏼
Deglaze the pan, again. Add the sherry (or red wine) once the onions are caramelised. Stir well, scraping up any caramelised bits from the bottom of the pan (they hold true hidden flavour!). Now let the liquid reduce slightly, for about 1-2 minutes.
Add seasoning & stock. Pour in the vegetable stock and add the vegan Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and tarragon. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for another 10-15 minutes to allow the flavours to meld. See Tip 5👇🏼
Thicken the gravy. Mix corn flour with a few tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl to create a smooth slurry. Slowly add the slurry to the simmering gravy, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. See Tip 6👇🏼 Continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
Season with salt and pepper as needed. Tip—Remove the thyme sprig if you use fresh thyme.
And that’s it—your vegan onion gravy is ready to be enjoyed with your favourite main course meals and side dishes 🤤 🤎
Variations, Ideas & Notes
📑 Substitutions
Onion powder instead of fresh onions.
Mushroom broth instead of vegetable stock (if you liked my mushroom stroganoff, you will surely love this, too!).
Sage (or rosemary) instead of thyme (use a smaller quantity; it can be a much stronger flavour enhancer).
Basil instead of dried tarragon.
Cooked (and blended) potato instead of cornflour.
🧅 Optional Add-ons
Garlic (when sauteing the onions)
Miso paste (toward the end of cooking)
Balsamic vinegar (right before serving)
Maple syrup (before adding the stock)
Dijon mustard (toward the end of cooking)
Nutritional yeast (with the vegetable stock)
Smoked paprika (with the vegetable stock)
Notes
Ingredient weights are approximate due to variations in brands and produce.
Adjust quantities and method if scaling the recipe.
Pro Tips For Plant-Based Caramelised Onion Gravy
If you prefer a non-alcoholic option, dry sherry can be replaced with apple cider vinegar (and an extra splash of vegetable broth).
Never add the cornflour directly to the gravy. Diluting it with water is important to avoid clumps.
Cooking without oil is effective and healthier, especially for reducing calories and visceral fat, and for long-term sustainable weight control.
My number one tip for caramelising onions without oil is to be patient. It will take about 30 minutes until they are ready, but don’t go anywhere. You will want to stir them occasionally, so they don’t burn.
Although this dish doesn’t take long to cook, allowing it to simmer longer enriches the flavour. Keep the lid on when simmering.
If your gravy has clumps, then you can blend it a bit to get that ultra-smooth texture.
A “smooth” gravy texture isn’t a rule for this recipe; it’s just a preference. You can go for a chunky texture with bits of onions for a bit of bite, if you like.
To make the recipe fully hands-off, try cooking the onions in a slow cooker for about 8 hours. I didn’t try this, but my workout buddy (who followed my recipe) did. She said it turned out great.
I’m always so surprised at how much the gravy thickens once it starts to cool down. So I make sure to leave it slightly thinner than I want while it’s still on the stove.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to serve vegan onion gravy?
I love to pour this delicious gravy over mashed potatoes—and use vegan dinner rolls to scoop up all the remaining bits of the super-flavourful brown sauce. It also tastes great with roasted vegetables and mushroom fritters. And if you’re including it in your holiday dinner menu, try it with options like…
Vegan sweet potato casserole
Sage and onion stuffing
Roasted pumpkin salad
Roasted honeynut or butternut squash
Baked or air-fried tofu
Lentil and mushroom Meatloaf
How to store plant-based onion gravy?
Store your leftover gravy in an airtight container for up to 4 days (honestly, the longer it sits, the better it tastes). It’s also freezer-friendly. Stays good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you think the gravy has become too thick after storing, you can reheat it with a splash of water to fix the consistency.
What can I use instead of sherry?
Swap sherry for red wine, red wine vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar with extra vegetable broth for a non-alcoholic option.
How do I thicken the gravy without cornflour?
Use blended cooked potatoes, a gluten-free flour blend, or arrowroot powder as a thickening alternative.
Can I make this oil-free?
Absolutely! The onions caramelize beautifully with just vegetable stock, making this a healthier, oil-free option.
Did You Love the Recipe as Much as I Do?
Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on the recipe card—and don’t forget to tag me @vegan.susy on Instagram to show me your 👩🏻🍳MasterChef creation 🤗
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