These caramelized pearl onions make a great side dish. This recipe is AIP, paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and vegan.
I used to enjoy a bowl of comforting French onion soup now and then, before going gluten and dairy-free. There are three main ingredients in this soup: bread, cheese and onions. With gluten and dairy off my menu, this soup doesn’t provide too many options.
Thankfully I love onions! But where can I use caramelized onions apart from French onion soup? What about cooking them as a side dish?
WHAT IS CARAMELIZATION?
According to Wikipedia, caramelization or caramelisation is the browning of sugar. This process is used extensively in cooking for the resulting sweet nutty flavor and brown color. During cooking, sugars and amino acids in the onion begin to break down, which leads to browning and development of umami flavor.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CARAMELIZE ONIONS?
Caramelizing onions takes time. As a rule the more caramelized, the deeper the color of the onions and the more flavor you’ll get from them. For example, caramelization of onions for the French onion soup can take up to 45 minutes of cooking.
If this sounds like too much time, you can make caramelized pearl onions instead. Besides, pearl onions are naturally sweeter than their larger comrades. This makes them perfect for caramelisation. The degree of caramelization of these tiny onions is less crucial when served as a side dish.
FLAVOR AND STRUCTURE
There are five basic tastes that are perceived by our taste buds: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savory. Combining these five basic tastes adds depth and complexity. Caramelized pearl onions cover most of these tastes. And this sought-after flavor can be reached with just a few ingredients at hand. Besides, during cooking pearl onions maintain their original structure, offering a perfect bite.
WHERE TO USE CARAMELIZED PEARL ONIONS?
Caramelized pearl onions is a great side dish when you want an elegant and hassle-free addition to your meal. Besides, this recipe can be used to add flavor to your meals and turning them from boring to flavorful.
Try these 7 recipes with caramelized onions:
- Savory Zucchini Bread
- Plantain Flatbread
- Arrowroot Chips
- Sardine Pâté
- Creamy Watercress Soup
- Venison Meatballs
- Chicken Burgers
Caramelized Pearl Onions
Author: Zesty Paleo
Servings: 3 to 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
1 pound pearl onions (yellow, white or red)
3 tablespoons coconut oil or ghee (omit ghee if on the AIP)
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
¼ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 390F.
- Heat the coconut oil (or ghee, if not AIP) in cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Add the pearl onions, sugar, and salt and toss to coat. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes tossing occasionally, until the onions start to brown.
- Stir in the balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs.
- Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Season to taste and serve.
Variation:
You can bake the onions right away. To do so, coat them with coconut oil, vinegar and salt and bake for 30-40 minutes stirring once halfway through.
Tips:
To peel pearls onions easily, place them in the boiling water for about a minute. Then drain the onions in a colander while pouring very cold water over to cool them and to stop the cooking process.
Maria is the blogger behind the Zesty Paleo website. As a Hashimoto's patient for more than a decade, Maria has constantly been taking steps to improve her quality of life, including nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Leave a Reply