MASTER RECIPE: CARAMELIZING ONIONS

Master Recipe: Caramelizing Onions image

Nothing can bump up the flavor of a good steak, burger, or just about any sandwich, than a batch of caramelized onions. And let's not forget all the other ways that we can use these versatile onions. The secret to good caramelized onions is not the onions (you can caramelize just about any old onion). It's about time and...

Provided by Andy Anderson !

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 7

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Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
2 large yellow onions
2 Tbsp sweet butter, unsalted
1 Tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
1/4 c white wine, chicken stock, or filtered water
1 pinch salt, kosher variety
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)

Steps:

1. PREP/PREPARE
2. Gather Your Ingredients.
3. Add the butter and olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium-low heat.
4. While the butter is melting, cut the onions, pole-to-pole, remove the skin and thinly slice.
5. Chef's Note: Caramelized onions like to have lots of friends, so I would do a minimum of two good-sized onions, or more. If you wind up making more than you need, you can always freeze the leftovers.
6. Add the onions to the pan, and give them a stir.
7. Chef's Note: Add a pinch of salt, to get the process started.
8. Chef's Note: Come back every 8 - 10 minutes, and give them another stir.
9. After 10 minutes the onions will be soft, but not brown... not a bit of brown. If they are beginning to brown, the heat is set too high... Turn it down.
10. After 20 minutes, the onions are beginning to lose moisture to the pan, and may begin to brown... but not very much browning. Stir the onions, with a wooden spoon, and incorporate the brown bits beginning to form on the bottom of the pan (fonds), back into the onions.
11. After 30 minutes, the onions are browning nicely (no burning), and as they begin to caramelize, they're giving off a wonderful aroma. Keep scraping those fonds into the onions.
12. After 40 minutes, they should be golden in color, and just about ready for the next step.
13. Chef's Note: Depending on the heat of the pan, it might take an additional 15 to 20 minutes to get the color and taste that you desire.
14. Add the liquid (wine, stock or water), scrape up all those yummy fonds, and incorporate them back into the onions.
15. Reduce most of the additional liquid, until the onions are nice and creamy, about 5 minutes.
16. Chef's Tip: At this point, I sometimes add a bit of balsamic vinegar, for an extra kick. I usually do this if I'm baking these onions into a pizza.
17. PLATE/PRESENT
18. Serving Ideas • Use them to grace a burger, or other sandwich. • Mix them in soups or stews. • Add to your favorite Pizza. • Add to the top of a nice soft cheese (brie) and serve with crackers. • Add to the top of a nice pile of pasta.
19. Chef's Tip: If you're not using them right away, you can freeze them, and they will survive for several months. Enjoy.
20. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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