When it comes to comfort food what you would say? Mac and cheese, a bowl of soup, hamburger, chili, casserole, pie or mashed potatoes?

Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological effects or to increase positive feelings. The term was first used, according to Webster’s Dictionary, in 1977.

Comfort food for me is a meal that it’s easy to make, warms your heart and soul and it makes you feel you cooked something extraordinary. This mashed potatoes with caramelized onion and a vegan brown sauce is absolutely a worth-to-try meal and it can be a dinner on its own.

I used nutritional yeast before added it to salads, pasta meals but making a gravy from it takes you to a new level. Nutritional yeast is a source of protein and vitamins, especially the B-complex vitamins, and is a complete protein. It is also naturally low in fat and sodium and is free of sugar, dairy, and gluten. Sometimes nutritional yeast is fortified with vitamin B12.

Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes With Vegan Gravy
(Recipe inspiration: Daily Garnish)

Ingredients

For the mashed potatoes
– 8 pieces of medium potatoes (about 600 g), peeled and diced
– 2 large onion, chopped
– salt
– nutmeg
– milk (cow or non-dairy), butter, sour cream – as you request to make your mashed potatoes
– olive oil

For the gravy
– 2 cloves garlic, chopped
– 2 tablespoons soy sauce
– 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
– 3 talbespoons white spelt flour (or all-purpose flour)
– 250 ml water
– salt, pepper
– olive oil

Method

Heat 3-4 tablespoons olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add diced onion with a pinch of salt. Put a lid on your pan and keep cooking the onion over low heat. Stir often so the onions don’t stick to your pan. Cook for another 25-30 minutes until tender and light brown.

In the meantime cook the potates in salted water until tender (about 20 minutes). Drain the pan into a colander and add the potatoes to a bowl. Season with salt, nutmeg, then add milk, butter or sour cream to your taste and mash the potatoes.

In a small pan heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and saute the chopped garlic for about 3-4 minutes. Add soy sauce and nutritional yeast. he key to smooth gravy is working quickly so add flour to the pan and immediately start whisking the mixture. Pour water slowly, step-by-step, while continuing to whisk the mixture. If you work hard enough the gravy will be smooth after you added all the water. Bring the gravy to simmer and let it thicken in a few minutes. If you find it very thick, add a bit of water to it.

Serve the gravy by pouring it over the mashed potatoes.