When I serve this vegan French onion soup to people and tell them it’s vegan, they call me a dirty liar. Well, perhaps not quite in those words, but they are astounded.

I have served this vegan French onion soup to many of my omnivore friends who pride themselves on being French-onion-soup aficionados and they are always amazed.

The secret? Massel beef-flavored broth. This gluten-free, vegan broth tastes like beef broth, but it’s completely plant-based. Australians have known about this sensational secret for over 30 years. The Massel products are so popular that over 70% of Aussies have the product in their homes. This family-owned Aussie company is practically a household name.

I love this broth so much that I used to bring it back to L.A in my suitcase because I couldn’t find a broth in America that even came close to matching the awesome flavor. Now, Massel is available in U.S stores and online from amazon, so now I have more room in my luggage for other things.

Massel broth comes as concentrated liquid, bouillon cubes, travel 7’s, and bouillon powder in vegetable, chicken, and beef flavors. All varieties are gluten-free, vegan (dairy-free and egg-free), preservative free, kosher, no trans fats, GMO-free, no added MSG, low carb, and salt reduced. Use the store locator to find out where you can get Massel in your local area.

French onion soup has to be rich and super flavorful to satisfy me. So, as fabulous as the beef-flavored broth is, I boost the flavor of the base with some tamari, balsamic vinegar, thyme, black pepper, and, of course, red wine. Caramelizing the onions is a commitment, but invest the time to reach for the sublime, and I promise you won’t be sorry.

The vegan French onion soup is pretty epic on its own. But, don’t miss making the cheezy bread, which sends this dish into spectacular territory. I was inspired by my french toast recipe to create a savory cheezy fried bread that would complement the deep rich flavor of the broth.

Massel to the rescue again! I made a creamy sauce to dip the bread into by blending the Massel chicken-flavored broth with raw cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a touch of smoked paprika.

Normally I’m not a fan of regular thin gluten-free sandwich bread. But, just like the french toast, the batter is so fabulous that the bread gets light, fluffy, and full of flavor. You would never know it’s gluten-free. You do need to eat the bread soon after it’s made, because it does dry up like most other gluten-free products.

I am excited to hear what you think of this French onion soup!

Disclaimer: I am an ambassador for Massel. But, my opinions are my own.