caramelized onions
70 Min
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GF
NF
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Caramelized Onions

Everybody has a different definition of wealth. My mother estimated hers by counting diamond earrings and gold necklaces. My idea of wealth is having a well-stocked refrigerator with hard-to-make basics, like caramelized onion puree, minced garlic, ginger puree, and ghee. If spices are the soul of Indian cooking, onions are the heart, especially in Northern Indian-style cooking. How you cut them, cook them, for how long, the color of the caramelization - all of this has an immense impact on the end result. Cooking onions may be the most time-consuming part, but once you learn to make your own caramelized onions, there is no turning back. 

You can use them for many other things, such as an addition to stews, pasta sauces, or masalas. Before I was in the restaurant business, I would make caramelized onions every couple of months and keep them in little plastic bags in the freezer so I would always have them on hand.
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Cook Time

10 Minutes + 60 Minutes Caramelization Time

Serves

2

Step 1
Peel the onions, cut them in half and then dice into about 1/4-inch pieces.
Step 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok and add the onions. Cook at high heat stirring every 3 to 4 minutes until they begin to show a light brown color, 20 to 30 minutes. They will sweat and begin to reduce in volume.
Step 3
Turn the heat down to medium and continue cooking while stirring frequently until they are a dark golden brown. They will considerably reduce in volume, 20 to 30 minutes more. If they stick to the bottom of the pan, add a tablespoon or two more of oil.

6 large onions (4 pounds)

1/2 cup olive oil  

Notes & Variations

  • Store the caramelized onions in an airtight container in the fridge for a little over a month!
  • Make a caramelized onion purée by adding to a food processor and pulsing until smooth.
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70 Min
DF
GF
NF
V

STOCK YOUR FRIDGE WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS.

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