Easy Caramelized Onions
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
45 mins
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Total Time
50 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
84 kcal
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Course
Side Dish, Condiments
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Cuisine
American
Easy Caramelized Onions
Description
Easy Caramelized Onions transform plain sliced onions into a richly flavored, sweet, and tender component through a slow caramelization process. The recipe uses butter or oil combined with salt and low heat to gently coax out the natural sugars in the onions, resulting in a deep golden brown color. Regular stirring and adding small amounts of water or broth prevent sticking and burning, ensuring even cooking over approximately 45 minutes. The approach emphasizes careful attention to heat levels and moisture to achieve soft, browned onions with a concentrated flavor.
The onions produced are soft with a subtle sweetness and a complexity that complements many meals, such as burgers, steaks, sandwiches, soups, or as bases for stews and sauces. Their texture is tender with some caramelized edges for contrast.
Using butter benefits flavor, but since it has a lower smoke point, combining it with oil or ghee helps prevent burning. Stainless steel or cast iron pans are preferred for the fond development and caramelization. The cooked onions can be refrigerated and used within several days to enhance other recipes.
Ingredients
- 2 onion sliced
- 2 tbsp butter or ghee or oil
- 1 tsp salt
- water as needed, or broth
Instructions
- Add the butter or oil and sliced onions to a large pan on medium heat.
- Give them a stir to ensure the onions are all fully coated, then sprinkle on the salt and stir again.
- Reduce the heat to medium low (or low if you have a large burner) and stir the onions every 2-3 minutes, allowing them to caramelize on the bottom in between stirring.
- If the onion start to dry out and stick to the pan, add 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth to deglaze the pan (give it a good scrape) and rehydrate the onions.
- Continue this process of stirring, scraping and deglazing until the onions have cooked for 45 minutes or until they're cooked to your liking.
- Use the caramelized onions on a variety of recipes or store in the fridge for several days.
Notes
- Combine butter with oil or ghee to raise the smoke point and avoid burning during caramelization.
- Use a stainless steel or cast iron pan for better browning and caramelization compared to non-stick pans.
- Stir the onions regularly and deglaze with water or broth as needed to prevent drying and sticking.
- Cook for about 45 minutes until desired color and tenderness are reached.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 84 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 84kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 584mg | 24% |
| Potassium | 80mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 13mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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