How to Make Caramelized Onions
Jammy, sweet and savory, these caramelized onions add depth and flavor to a recipe.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large onions
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
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Instructions
- Cut the onions in half through the stem and root. Cut off the stem end of each onion half, leaving the root side intact. Peel the onions and thinly slice from pole to pole. Cut the root side off. Repeat with remaining onions.3 large onions
- Melt butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add sliced onions and toss to coat. Cook for 10-15 minutes over medium heat.1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Sprinkle over the onions and reduce heat to medium low.1 tablespoon sugar
- Cook for an additional 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Onions are done when they are sticky and a rich brown color.
Notes
- Onions: Yellow, Vidalia or Walla Walla onions are the best for caramelizing. Regular white onions don't have as much flavor. Save red onions for pickling or eating raw in salads.
Tips:
- Use onions that feel heavy for their size. The heaviness means that they are juicy and full of flavor.
- Slice the onions from pole to pole. Slicing them with the grain allows the onions to hold their shape when caramelizing. If you slice them against the grain they will dissolve into a jam.
- Slice the onions in a uniform size. Slicing the onions in a similar size makes sure that they will cook evenly.
- Low and slow. There isn't anything fast about making caramelized onions. It takes a steady slow cook for 45 minutes to an hour on the stove top to get the best results. If you try and rush it, you''' end up with sauteéd onions instead of caramelized ones.
- Refrigerate them for later use. Caramelized onions will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. You can also freeze them but this will cause the onions to break down and lose their shape.
Nutrition
Serving: 4tablespoonsCalories: 186kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 8mgPotassium: 243mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 178IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.4mg
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
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