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Caramelized onion beans topped with tender-crisp charred cauliflower is a simple, one-pot entree that’s packed with layers of flavor and texture! Serve it with pasta or a baked potato or use pita, flatbread or sourdough to dip. Soyfree, Nutfree, Glutenfree

caramelized onion beans in the pan topped with charred cauliflower, tomato, and herbs
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This is a super easy, one pan bean recipe. The star of the dish is the Deeelicious caramelized onion sauce. Everything cooks in 1 pan, uses a few everyday ingredients! I finish off the dish with this easy charred cauliflower which is just charred either on the skillet or you can bake it with some salt and pepper. It adds great texture and flavor to the overall dish. 

close-up of caramelized onion beans in the pan topped with charred cauliflower, tomato, and herbs

Caramelized onion beans are just so versatile! You can use your beans of choice, like white beans, lentils, chickpeas. The beans are delicious with pasta or baked potatoes, or you can use flatbread or crusty bread to dip. So make this dish, then make it your own!

Dont want to use beans? Add in some crisped tofu to the sauce! Or use the sauce with pasta or as a gravy over veggies.

caramelized onion beans in the pan after cooking

Why You’ll Love Caramelized Onion Beans

  • creamy beans in rich, savory herbed caramelized onion sauce
  • crispy, charred cauliflower topping that you can make in the oven or on the skillet
  • super versatile dish. Use your favorite beans to make it, and serve with pasta, baked potato, or bread to dip.
  • gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free
extreme close-up of caramelized onion white beans, so you can really see that amazing texture!

Caramelized Onion Beans with Charred Cauliflower

4.93 from 13 votes
By: Vegan Richa
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Caramelized onion beans topped with tender-crisp charred cauliflower is a simple, one-pot entree that’s packed with layers of flavor and texture! Serve it with pasta or a baked potato or use pita, flatbread, or sourdough to dip. Glutenfree, Soyfree, nutfree
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Ingredients 
 

For the Charred Cauliflower

  • 1 cup cauliflower florets, sliced into 1/4″ thick slices
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Caramelized Onion Sauce

  • 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
  • 3 tablespoons vegan Parmesan
  • 1/4 cup non-dairy yogurt, or use non dairy cream or cashew cream
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups water, or vegetable broth
  • 15- oz can white beans, cannellini beans, butter beans or any other beans of choice, drained. Or use 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans.

For Garnish

  • chopped tomato, pepper flakes, vegan Parmesan
  • chopped fresh herbs, like basil or parsley

Instructions 

Make the cauliflower first.

  • Chop and slice your cauliflower florets, if you haven’t already.
  • To bake the cauliflower florets: Drizzle a little bit of oil or rub the oil all over the florets, then sprinkle on the salt and pepper and distribute the florets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400° F (205° C) for 25 to 30 minutes, until they are golden brown. They will be more golden brown on the bottom . If you want them more evenly browned, you can flip the cauliflower at around the 25-minute mark for browning on both sides.
  • To make it on the skillet: Heat the skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil, then add the sliced cauliflower and spread it all over on the skillet. Continue to cook until it is golden on one side, 3 mins, then flip it and cook until it’s golden brown on that other side, as well. 3-4 mins. Then, sprinkle the salt and pepper all over, toss well to coat, and then transfer the cauliflower to a plate while you make the caramelized onion sauce in the same skillet.

Make the caramelized onion sauce.

  • Add the extra virgin olive oil to the skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and mix and cook until the onion is starting to turn translucent. 4-6 minutes , add a splash of water in between to help conduct heat.
  • Add in the garlic and the balsamic vinegar, and mix well, and continue to cook until the onion is starting to brown and caramelize. 3-5 minutes.
  • Mix in the pepper flakes, Italian herbs, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, then add in the vegan parmesan and non-dairy yogurt. Mix well, then add the water or vegetable stock and mix well.
  • Bring to a boil, then mix in the beans and partially cover the pot. Let it simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. If the sauce is thickening too much, add in some more water or stock, and bring to a boil again.
  • Taste and adjust salt and flavor, then plate the beans and top it with the charred cauliflower, chopped tomato, , Parmesan, pepper flakes, and the fresh herbs. Serve with some toasted sourdough, garlic bread, or a flatbread of choice. You can also serve it over pasta or baked potatoes.

Video

Notes

Caramelized onion beans are naturally gluten-free.
To make these soy-free and/or nut-free, just make sure that your vegan Parmesan and yogurt are soy-free and/or nut-free.
Bean substitute: Add in some crisped tofu to the sauce! Or use the sauce with pasta or as a gravy over veggies.

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 520mg, Potassium: 665mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 48IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 135mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!
beans, cauliflower, and other ingredients in bowls on the kitchen counter

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • cauliflower – This is your crispy, tender topping. Slice your florets into 1/4″ thick pieces.
  • oil, salt, and pepper – To brown and season the cauliflower. You’re also using oil to caramelize the onions and seasoning the beans with a little more salt.
  • garlic – Adds umami flavor to the beans.
  • balsamic vinegar – Adds a touch of sweetness, and the liquid helps the onions brown evenly.
  • dried spices – Pepper flakes and Italian herbs add more flavor to the onion sauce.
  • vegan parmesan and non-dairy yogurt – Make the sauce creamy. Use non dairy cream or cashew cream instead of yogurt. Use soy-free and/or nut-free, if needed.
  • water – Adds moisture to the sauce and helps the beans cook a bit more. You can use vegetable stock for more flavor, if you like.
  • beans – Use your beans of choice, like white beans, lentil, or chickpeas.
  • garnish – Top this off with the charred cauliflower along with chopped tomato, more pepper flakes, and fresh herbs.

💡 Tips

  • If you’re baking the cauliflower, make the sauce while it’s in the oven, so everything is ready at the same time.
  • To brown the cauliflower on both sides in the oven, flip it at the 25-minute mark and bake for 5 more minutes.
  • How long the onions take to brown depends on your stove, your pan, etc. Just keep on cooking until they’re beautifully caramelized.

How to Make Caramelized Onion Beans

Chop and slice your cauliflower florets, if you haven’t already.

To bake the cauliflower florets: Drizzle a little bit of oil or rub the oil all over the florets, then sprinkle on the salt and pepper and distribute the florets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400° F (205° C) for 25 to 30 minutes, until they are golden brown. They will be more golden brown on the bottom of the florets thats touching the baking dish. If you want them more evenly browned, you can flip the cauliflower at around the 25-minute mark for more browning on both sides.

To make it on the skillet: Heat the skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil, then add the sliced cauliflower and spread it all over on the skillet. Continue to cook until it is golden on one side, then flip it and cook until it’s golden brown on that other side, as well. Then, sprinkle the salt and pepper all over, toss well to coat, and then transfer the cauliflower to a plate while you make the caramelized onion sauce in the same skillet.

cooking the cauliflower on the skillet
cauliflower after flipping, so you can see the browned sides

Add the extra virgin olive oil to the skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and mix and cook until the onion is starting to turn translucent. 4-6minutes

adding onion and salt to the skillet

Add in the garlic and the balsamic vinegar, and mix well, and continue to cook until the onion is starting to brown and caramelize. The whole process can take anywhere from 7 to 10 minutes. 

adding garlic and spices to the skillet
garlic mixed into translucent onions
caramelized onions in the pan
adding stock to the pan
adding non-dairy yogurt to the pan of onions

Mix in the pepper flakes, Italian herbs, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, then add in the vegan parmesan and non-dairy yogurt. Mix well, then add the water or vegetable stock and mix well. 

adding vegan parmesan to the pan

Bring to a boil, then mix in the beans and partially cover the pot. Let it simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. If the sauce is thickening too much, add in some more water or stock, and bring to a boil again.

bringing the caramelized onion beans to a boil

Taste and adjust salt and flavor, then plate the beans and top it with the charred cauliflower, chopped tomato, more pepper flakes, and the fresh herbs. Serve with some toasted sourdough, garlic bread, or a flatbread of choice. You can also serve it over pasta or baked potatoes. 

caramelized onion beans in the pan topped with charred cauliflower, tomato, and herbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this recipe allergy friendly?

Caramelized onion beans are naturally gluten-free. To make these soy-free and/or nut-free, just make sure that your vegan Parmesan and yogurt are soy-free and/or nut-free.

About Richa

Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options.

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4.93 from 13 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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28 Comments

  1. Esther says:

    5 stars
    This was easy and outstanding! Thank you!
    I only wish Iโ€™d had some pita bread on hand to scoop it up!

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Yay! So glad you liked it!

  2. Miriam Kearney says:

    Richa, I should also mention that I don’t do multi tasking very well – something will need attention when I need to go sit down so I do one thing at a time. I prep my ingredients so they are at hand for the entire step. So I would roast the cauliflower in one step, make the sauce, add the beans. That’s what I’m talking about.

    1. Richa says:

      You can make the sauce ahead and even freeze it. You can even mix in the beans and refrigerate and freeze. You can skip the cauliflower or roast it when needed.

  3. Miriam Kearney says:

    Richa, this sounds really good but it seems that it would take a long time in the kitchen. I have limited ability to stand so I usually break recipes down into steps that allow me to step away (no pun intended) and rest for a while. Could I make the onion sauce as far as adding in the broth, then step away. I might even need to fridge the sauce and continue the next day by adding the beans. Do you see any problems with that?

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Yes you can make the sauce the day before and continue the next day.

  4. Stacey says:

    5 stars
    Amazing as usual! I served mine on baked potato and topped with dried parsley. So filling and delicious! My cauliflower didn’t work out as steaks, but still charred nicely as thick florets๐Ÿ’—

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Yum!