They’re sweet, they’re savory, they make everything better. Caramelized onions may be simple, but they’re also a great way to turn even the most basic dish into one that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds. That said, achieving rich, melt-in-your-mouth onions with the right balance of flavor isn’t exactly intuitive for most home cooks, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth learning. Read on for our go-to recipe.
Ingredients:
- 4 large onions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
Instructions:
- Peel the onions and cut them in half from top to bottom. Thinly slice into half-moons.
- In a large skillet or pan, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted and the oil is hot.
- Add the sliced onions to the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir to coat. Add the sugar at this stage as well if you prefer sweeter onions.
- Cook the onions over medium heat, stirring every 3-5 minutes to ensure even caramelization. If they start to stick to the pan, lower the heat a bit and add a splash of water or broth.
- Continue to cook for about 30-40 minutes or until onions are a deep golden brown. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Once the onions are caramelized, remove them from the heat and use them as a topping for all kinds of savory dishes including burgers, dips, and even pizza.
- Store leftover onions in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. For longer storage, caramelized onions are also freezer-friendly.
