This creamy vegan French onion dip is dairy-free, nut-free, and made with sweet caramelized onions and silken tofu. It's perfect as a party appetizer or sandwich spread!
French onion dip is one of my favorite foods. It's like the Midwestern analog to the South's pimento cheese: creamy, dippable, and downright addicting.
I grew up eating it on everything: potato chips, sandwiches, hot dogs... I'm not afraid to say that I love French onion dip in all of its forms. Especially this dairy-free version made with silken tofu.
As a dietitian, I like making recipes traditionally seen as "unhealthy" a little bit more nutritious. A few simple swaps make this vegan French onion dip higher in protein and lower in saturated fat than traditional caramelized onion dip without sacrificing flavor.
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Recipe highlights
- Texture: Vegan French onion dip is ultra-creamy and dairy-free thanks to silken tofu and vegan mayonnaise.
- Flavor: Has the classic French onion flavor from caramelized onions.
- Prep ahead: Can be made in 2 to 3 days in advance.
- Serving: Great as an appetizer at parties, potlucks, or on game days.
Ingredients
- Yellow onions to make caramelized onions. Use two large yellow onions or white onions.
- Silken tofu, also sometimes called soft tofu, provides creaminess and protein. It replaces sour cream, which is usually used in French onion dip recipes. This recipe doesn't work with firm, extra firm, or super firm tofu.
- Vegan mayonnaise is used in place of regular mayo.
- Spices like parsley, oregano, and garlic powder add flavor to the blank slate that is silken tofu and vegan mayo.
- Soy sauce adds a punch of saltiness and umami flavor. Tamari can be used to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Apple cider vinegar adds some of the acidity usually found in sour cream. An equal amount of white vinegar can be used as needed.
Step-by-step instructions
There are two main steps to making onion dip with silken tofu:
- Caramelized onions: This takes 45 minutes to an hour and can be done 2-3 days in advance.
- Making the dip: This part requires less than 5 minutes in a blender or food processor.
Caramelized onions
You can't make French onion dip, vegan or not, without caramelized onions. (Okay, technically you could use one of those packets from the store but it's just not as good that way).
Caramelized onions are surprisingly easy to make. All you need is onions, salt, time, and a little bit of patience.
- Slice 2 large white onions into thin strips. In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Sprinkle the onions with a bit of salt and saute for 10 minutes, until lightly golden.
- After the onions have browned slightly, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the onions work their magic. Stir the onions only once every 10 minutes to prevent them from sticking.
To speed up the cooking process and to add sweetness you can sprinkle the onions with ~½ teaspoon of sugar.
If the onions are drying out, splash them with a teaspoon of water.
Making the tofu dip
Gather the caramelized onions and remaining ingredients. Add ingredients to a blender or food processor. I like to reserve a few caramelized onions for topping the dip.
You do not need a high-powered blender to make this dip. Simply blend on medium speed until mostly smooth.
Serve topped with fresh chopped parsley or chives and reserved caramelized onions.
Cassidy's top tips
- Make extra caramelized onions! Because onions really shrink down when they're caramelized, I like to make them in bulk. This recipe requires two large yellow onions (yielding about ½ a cup), but you can easily double the recipe. I like to make my vegetarian mushroom Philly cheesesteaks when I make French onion dip because the recipe also uses caramelized onions.
- Silken tofu: Make sure to drain the liquid off of the silken tofu to prevent the dip from becoming too thin.
- Dip texture: If you prefer a chunkier dip you can dice half of the caramelized onions and fold them in after blending.
Storage tips
- Storage: For best quality, keep leftovers refrigerated in a closed container for 3-4 days. Stir well before serving, as silken tofu separates over time. It's still fine to eat, it just needs to be recombined.
- Freezing: I haven't tried freezing caramelized onion dip but I do think it should work. It would need to thaw overnight in the fridge before using. Let us know down below if you try freezing it!
More vegan appetizers
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Creamy Vegan French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow onions sliced into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 7 ounces silken tofu ½ of a 14 ounce block; make sure to drain off any liquid
- ½ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dry parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dry oregano or 1 teaspoon fresh
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- fresh chopped parsley and chives for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Saute the sliced onions for 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden. Turn the heat down to medium low and sprinkle with salt. Stir only once every 10 minutes, until the onions are golden brown and tender, about 40 minutes.
- Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste for salt and seasonings.
- Enjoy chilled. Serve topped with fresh chopped parsley and sliced chives.
Video
Notes
- Texture: Prefer a chunkier onion dip? Dice ½ of the caramelized onions and fold into the blended onion dip.
- Leftovers: For best quality, keep leftovers refrigerated in a closed container for 3-4 days.
- Serving: Enjoy with potato chips, pretzels, or veggies. It's also great as a sandwich spread.
Lisa Ranft says
This spread was tasty, but tastes nothing like classic French onion dip.
Monica Sander says
Hi Cassidy
I’m writing from Hanoi where mayonnaise of any sort is expensive and hard to get. Tofu, however, is plentiful and cheap.
Can one simply leave it out or is it an essential ingredient?
Thanks
Monica
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
Hi Monica, I think you should be fine leaving it out. The flavor will be a bit different and it might not be as creamy, but you could always add a splash of oil for the creaminess (like avocado oil, olive oil, or canola). Hope you enjoy!
April H. Häxa says
Perfect vegan French onion dip for Superbowl Sunday!