Sauteing onions until they are caramelized is a simple trick used by many great chefs to add flavor to dishes in an instant. To do this, you just need to thinly slice the onion, then fry it in a little butter for a long time using low heat. The longer the onions are sauteed, the sweeter the taste will be. So don't be in a hurry, OK! Once cooked, stir-fried onions can be immediately mixed into various types of sauces, pasta preparations, or soups.
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow onions, about 450 grams, peeled
- 2 tbsp. (28 grams) unsalted butter
- Kosher salt to taste
Will yield: 97 grams of sauteed onions
Step
Method 1 of 2: Caramelizing Onions Using the Stove
Step 1. Thinly slice 2 onions
Place 2 peeled onions on a cutting board, then slice the onion in half lengthwise. Cut the onion stalks about 1 cm (1 cm) apart, then place the flat part of the onion on the cutting board. After that, use a very sharp knife to slice the onion to a thickness of 0.5 to 0.25 cm. Try not to cut the roots so the onions don't fall apart when you slice them. After slicing onions, then you can cut the roots.
Use your favorite type of onion. For example, you can use red onions, Spanish onions, or Vidalia onions
Step 2. Heat the butter in the pan until you hear a sizzling sound
Place a deep skillet on the stove and add 2 tbsp. butter into it. Turn on the stove over medium heat and wait for the butter to melt completely. Simmer the butter until you hear a hissing sound from the pan.
Remember, you'll need to use a skillet with deep enough edges so the onions don't splatter in all directions when stirring
Step 3. Gradually add the sliced onions to the pan and sprinkle a pinch of salt on top
First, add a handful of sliced onions to the skillet, then sauté the onions until they soften in texture for about 1 minute. Then add the handful of onions back in and wait for the texture to soften before adding the new onion slices. This step is a must so that the onions can be stirred more easily! Once all the onion slices have been added, add a pinch of kosher salt to the surface.
- If the pan is too full, the onions will be difficult to stir. Also, onion slices that are closer to the heat source will cook faster.
- If you only want to cook one onion, feel free to saute all the sliced onions at the same time.
Do you know?
Even if you bake them in the oven, you'll still need to stir your onions regularly, especially since this method runs the risk of drying out and burning the edges more quickly.
Step 4. Cook the onions for 15 to 20 minutes to caramelize on a medium level
Use medium heat to sauté the onions and stir every 2 to 3 minutes for at least 15 minutes. Turn off the heat once the onions have turned light brown if you want to caramelize them with a medium degree.
Turn the sautéed onions into a typical French onion soup or continue to sauté them for a softer, thicker onion
Step 5. Add 15 to 30 minutes of sauteing time if you want to darken the onion
For a soft, sweet-tasting onion, continue to stir the onions periodically and cook until they turn a dark brown color, about 15 to 30 minutes. In other words, the total cooking time required will increase to 30 to 50 minutes.
If the onions start to stick to the bottom of the pan, add about 2 tbsp. water or vegetable stock to release it
Step 6. Use caramelized onions as a dip, pasta mix, or egg mixture
For example, you can mix stir-fried onions with scrambled eggs or a pasta like carbonara. If you want to make a dip or spread similar to jam, let the onions cool before mixing them with the sour cream and other spices.
To store caramelized onions, all you need to do is pack them in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. Onions can last for a maximum of 1 week
Method 2 of 2: Varying Recipes
Step 1. Add balsamic vinegar and brown sugar to enrich the onion flavor
Taste the onions when the carameling process is almost over, then determine whether or not you need to make the onions taste sweeter. If you want the onion to taste a little sweeter, add about 1 tbsp. brown sugar and 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar. Then, cook the onions again until they are really soft and brown in color.
Don't have brown sugar? Substitute with granulated sugar, then add about 1 tsp. molasses
Step 2. Cook the onions in a beer or cider solution to thicken the texture
If the onions are going to be served with sausage or grilled meat, try adding 240 ml of beer or cider after the onions have cooked for 10 minutes. Bring the liquid used to a boil, then reduce the heat and continue the cooking process for 20 minutes.
Supposedly, the beer or cider will evaporate after the caramelizing process is over
Step 3. Add a pinch of baking soda to speed up the caramelization process
If you have limited time, try adding a little baking soda to the sautéed onions in the pan. Baking soda can increase the pH of onions and make them brown faster.
Try adding about 1/4 tsp. baking soda for every 450 grams of stir-fried onions
Step 4. Add the thyme leaves to give it a hint of spice
Prepare a sprig of thyme for each onion, take the leaves, then put the thyme leaves into the pan with the sautéed onions. Mix all the ingredients together until the onions are well caramelized.
Use your favorite herbs for different flavors. For example, you can use chopped fresh sage or rosemary
Step 5. Make the carameling process more practical using a slow cooker
Fill at least half of the pan with sliced onions, then add 1 tbsp. olive oil or butter for every 450 grams of onion. After that, cover the pot and reduce the heat, then cook the onions for 10 hours until they soften in texture and turn brown in color.
If possible, stir the onions periodically to even out the level of doneness, although the onions will also cook well without stirring
Tips:
If you prefer onions that are thicker and have a richer taste, remove the lid after 10 hours and cook the onions again for another 3 to 5 hours.
Tips
- Sprinkle the caramelized onions over the top of your favorite sandwich, burger, or hot dog.
- Double or triple the amount in the recipe for more caramelized onions.
