10 Ways to cook Onions - Dairy free

10 Ways to cook onions dairy free

Onion's are used as an ingredient in many recipes, as they add a wonderful flavour.  Iv tried to find recipes and cooking techniques where the Onion is the star, rather than part of the supporting cast. 

Vegetable recipes are easy to find, on the Internet.  Only problem is there mostly vegetarian and include dairy or cheese.  It's the same with TV chef's, It would be great if for once someone made a cooking show focuses for people with food allergy's or food intolerance's.   Until then I'll just keep up my own cooking & baking experiments. 


1. Onion Soup

Due to the Baltic cold weather over the last few days, I had to start my list with Soup.  Perfect for warming your bones on winter days.  It's usually served with a toasted cheese crouton on top.  If your not intolerant to yeast, you could try using your favourite Vegan Cheese. 

Yeast extract is added to most vegan processed foods to boost the flavour

Vegan French Onion Soup



With these photo's who could resist trying out the attached recipe.  I love French Onion soup,  it's a lot easier to cook than people think. 

2. Onion Jam

I made this recipe yesterday.  It takes a while to make but since it's baked in the oven it's really easy.  Most onion jam or marmalade recipes contain a lot of sugar, not this one.  The sweetness comes from the cooking down the red onions.  While the balsamic vinegar and black pepper lend the savoury spice taste.  You make what you need, so no need to buy Kilo grams of Onions.  The 3 red onions I used gave me 2 portions.  One to keep in the fridge and the another for the freezer. 

3.  Baked Onion

I love Onion Rings, just haven't been able to eat them for a while since there usually deep fried.  Due to my IBS, my digestive system just can't handle any fried food.  It's great to find a healthy version that's can be baked in the oven.    Oven Baked Onion Rings

 Welsh Onion Cake is another great baked onion recipe. 


4. Roast Onions

Roasting onions in the oven can't really be any easier.  You just peel and chop them in halves or quarters. Then  toss in a little oil, salt and pepper before placing in a hot oven.  leites culinaria has an even simpler method, roasting them whole skins and all.  This has to be the ultimate lazy day recipe. 


5. Stuffed Onions

Onion's are usually stuffed with meat, however you can use vegetables instead. 

Whats cooking America  - Vegetarian spinach and feta stuffed onions.  You could either use a vegan dairy free cheese substitute or use firm Tofu instead. 

Fat free Vegan - Vegan pilaf rice stuffed Onions. 


6. Onion Pizza or  Tart

What you call it is totally up too you.  Id say Onion Tart if your making this for adults.  However Id call it Onion Pizza if your making it for kids. 

Onions and Apples are often paired together, so I used them to top my Yeast free Pizza Dough.   I used the onion jam I made yesterday and added thinly sliced apples.  This has got to be the best Vegan Pizza iv made so far. 

Yeast Free pizza Dough - Makes 1

1 Cup Wholemeal Self Raising Flour

1 dessert spoon Corn Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Sugar

1 tbsp Veg oil

1/3 Cup Warm water

Whisk the flour, corn flour/starch and salt together in a bowl to combine

Make a well in the centre and add the oil and water.  Use a knife to bring together, before kneading into a moist firm dough.

Wrap in a plastic and leave to rest in your fridge for a 30 Min's or longer.

To cook, pre heat your oven too 200 Celsius.

Roll your dough out into a rough circle.  The thickness depends on your own personal preference.  Then add your toppings. 

For a Continental Tart recipe try making  French Onion Pissaladiere 

7. Onion Pie

One of my mum's favourite pies is Cheese and Onion, a classic combination.  Finding a great cheese and Onion pie is hard, so I make individual ones for her to stock in the freezer.  I use little pie foil cases to make the individual ones, and a more portable Cornish pasty made version. 

For a Scottish vegan cheese check out the Bute Island Sheese Internet site.  Iv just discovered that there Goulda and Edam sheeses don't have yeast extract as an ingredient so are okay for me to eat. 

There also now supplying vegan cheese as part of Tesco's Free From Chilled Range. 

You could use it too make - Vegetarian Mushroom and onion shepherd's pie

Or for a Onion only version - Vegan Alsatian Onion Pie


8. Indian

Onions are used as a base for many Indian curry's.  They can also feature as the star ingredient as well in a Dopiaza Indian Onion Curry.  Probably the most well know Indian dish though is deep fried Onion Bhaji.  For a healthier version try Baked onion Bhaji



9. Onion Bread and Scones

The simplest way to make Onion Bread is too take your favourite bread or scone recipe and add Chopped fresh onions.  You could also dice the above onion jam and add along with sliced black olives or sun dried tomato's for a Continental twist.  You'll find a base Soda Bread and Scone on my Recipe page.

Not ready to customise your own recipe.....

- Jewish Onion Bread 

- Chopped Onion Bread

- Buttermilk onion bread - to make Dairy free substitute Soya yogurt for butter milk

- Sage and Onion Soda Bread - yeast free recipe, can be made dairy free by using  non diary alternatives


10. Bizarre Onion  Recipes

For slightly Bizarre or unusual recipes check out the - Vidalia Onion site  especially the Desserts Category.  There not all Vegan, but if you were determined to try them you could use dairy and egg free Substitutes.

Another Onion dedicated Internet site is Sweet Onion Source.  There dessert list includes a recipe for Sweet Onion chocolate Truffles.....


While I love the sweetness of Onions, I'm not really convinced they would work great in a dessert xxx