Caramelized Onions
User Reviews
5
Caramelized Onions
Description
The Caramelized Onions recipe relies on medium-low heat to slowly soften sliced yellow onions in extra-virgin olive oil, stirring occasionally over 50 to 80 minutes. Adding sea salt enhances the onions' natural sweetness and aids in drawing out moisture. The long cooking time allows the onions to transform from sharp and crisp to soft and richly caramelized brown without burning. Adjusting the heat can speed up or slow down the process, always stirring to prevent sticking or burning. This technique yields onions that add a mellow, sweet depth to any meal where they're included.
The required ingredients are minimal, with just onions, olive oil, and salt, making this an easy technique to master. Cooking in a cast iron skillet helps maintain a steady temperature and even browning. The note mentions adapting the recipe for slightly smaller quantities in a 10-inch skillet by adjusting onions and oil proportionally.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 yellow onion halved and sliced, medium
- ½ teaspoon salt sea salt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes, or until starting to soften.
- Add the salt, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 50 to 80 minutes, stirring every few minutes, or until the onions are very soft, golden brown, and caramelized. The timing will depend on the size of your onions and the heat of your stove.
- If at any point the onions start to stick to the bottom of the pan, reduce the heat to low. If the onions aren’t deeply brown after 50 minutes and you’d like to speed things up, you can turn the heat higher to get more caramelization. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
Notes
- You can prepare this recipe in a 10-inch skillet using three onions and 1½ tablespoons of olive oil if a 12-inch pan is unavailable.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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