French Onion Pasta Recipe

French onion pasta with sun-dried tomatoes in a white bowl.

5 from 4 votes

20-Minute Easy French Onion Pasta made with 7 budget-friendly ingredients, with optional crispy roasted chickpeas for more protein. Hummus replaces heavy cream in this vegan, healthy, and comforting jammy onion pasta.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Main

Cuisine: Vegan

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: people

Calories: 432kcal

Author: Nisha Melvani

Ingredients

8 ounces pasta cooked, reserving 1 ¼ cups cooking water
Generous drizzle of olive oil
1 large yellow onion halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
¼ teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
½ cup hummus plus more to taste
⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes jarred, preserved in oil
1 tablespoon oil from sun-dried tomatoes (optional)
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce optional (see notes)

Optional for roasted chickpeas:

1 cup chickpeas drained, and rinsed (optional)
Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions

Optional for roasted chickpeas: Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Transfer the chickpeas to a large rimmed nonstick baking sheet. Toss them in a drizzle of olive oil. Cook the chickpeas for 15 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes more, or until golden brown.
Caramelize the onion: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and sprinkle with baking soda. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until golden brown and just softened. Reduce the heat to medium and mix in the salt.
Pour in 1 cup pasta water and mix. Add the hummus, sun-dried tomatoes, and oil (if using). Cook for about 3 minutes, or until heated through. Add more pasta water and/or hummus until the desired taste and consistency.
Add the balsamic vinegar and mix to incorporate. Remove from the heat.
For serving: Top with roasted chickpeas, if using.

Notes

- Don't overcook the onions or they will get mushy. Stir them every 3 minutes or so. If you stir them too often, they will not have a chance to brown. Reduce the heat once they have softened and browned.

- Remember to save the pasta cooking water! It is a practical and effective method for thickening the sauce. If you forget to reserve it, use vegetable broth instead.

- For a true French Onion Soup flavor, add 1 teaspoon 'Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef Base' into the reserved pasta water, and/or add 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce when you add the hummus. (I use Annie's, and The Wizard's brands.)

Nutrition