How to Caramelize Onions
The sweet, mellow flavor of caramelized onions will enhance any soup or main course, and they also taste great as a side dish.
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You Will Need
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 to 2 tbsp. cooking oil
- 1 to 2 tbsp. butter
- Salt
- Equipment:
- Skillet
- Black pepper
- Sugar
Steps
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Step 1
Prepare onion
Cut off the top of the onion. Slice it in half lengthwise and peel. Place half of the onion flat side down and slice it into thin half-rings ¼ inch wide. The thinner the slice, the faster it will cook.
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Step 2
Preheat the skillet
Place the oil and butter in a large skillet over low heat. When ripples appear in the oil, it's hot enough.
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Step 3
Add onion
Add the sliced onion and stir to coat evenly with oil and butter. Add a dash of salt to draw out moisture and speed up the caramelization.
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To enhance the flavor and sweetness, add pepper and a dash of sugar.
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Step 4
Cook
Let the onions cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Stirring too often will prevent the onions from caramelizing. They will darken as they cook.
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Cover the skillet with a lid for the first few minutes to speed up the process. If they stick, deglaze the pan by adding a small amount of water and stirring.
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Step 5
Finish and freeze
Remove the onions when they have a deep golden color and are soft and melting. Freeze any leftovers for up to three months.
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Eating parsley will get rid of onion breath.
