Ingredient: Onion

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Onion-

  • Description

Onions are often called the “workhorse of the kitchen” because of their use in an abundance of recipes.  Onions have a dry papery outside that is removed and discarded.  The flesh of an onion should be firm without bruising.

  • Preparation

Remove the papery outer layers as well as the stem and root ends.  Onions can be used both cooked and raw.  Onions can be sauted, baked, roasted, stewed, pickled, caramelized (to bring out their sweetness, see below), and just about any other preparation you can imagine, they are after all, the workhorse.

  • Varieties

Varieties of onions include but are not limited to: yellow, red (sweeter and a bit milder), pearl, white, Spanish, Cipollini and sweet onions.

Fresh onions- fresh onions are harvested in spring and summer.  They have a papery layer of skin, the have a milder flavor and they are high in moisture.  Use these quickly, they are not onions meant for storage

Storage onions- Storage onions are harvested in cooler weather.  The have several thick layers of skin, a pungent flavor and a lower moisture content.

Other members of the onion family include: green onions, garlic scapes, garlic, leeks, and shallots.

  • Storage

Store onions in a cool, dry, dark place with lots of air to circulate around them.  Onions will rot quickly if they cannot breathe.  Storage onions can last months, while fresh onions can last up to 30 days.  (Jess keeps hers in a bin near her counter, unless cut, then they go in the fridge).  Do NOT store your onions with your potatoes, the gasses from the onion can cause the potato to sprout faster.

  • Nutrition

Onions contain vitamins B6 and C

 

How to Caramelize Onions – Originally posted by Sarah – January 20, 2015image

Cook it slowly til it’s brown and sweet…..

That’s right my Springdell friends, today we caramelize.  Adding heat to fruit and veggies brings out the natural sugars and carbohydrates within and the browning of those sugars is called caramelization.  They become a beautiful deep brown with a sweet taste to them.  The key to this is that they take time.  You can’t rush, you can’t take shortcuts to get that beauty.  Trust me, it’s worth it.

People often think caramelization and they think onions.  Well, the onion family loves to be deep brown in color and nutty in flavor (as well as fill your house with the Rolls-Royce of aromas).  I happen to have a surplus of onions from my Springdell winter share so let’s begin.  Start by slicing your onions about 1/8 inch think, or thicker if you like.  Some people think the thinner the better, but that’s not the case here.  Giving a slightly thicker cut will prevent your onions from drying out, they have a long cook they need to hold up for.  You are not going for mushy onions are you?

imageYou should add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan when you toss the onions in.  People love the buttery taste and texture but don’t add any butter at this point.  Butter has a higher burning point, so we will add some a bit later.

image Your burner should be on as low as possible and let them go, stirring every few minutes.

imageDon’t crank the heat up to try and speed up the process, it doesn’t work like that.  Be patient, this process takes 40-60 minutes, sometimes longer!  You can add a bit more oil if they start to stick.

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 At about this point you can add a dab of butter.  You should have a nice brown build up on the bottom of the pan, that’s a good thing, a very good thing.  Flavor is building up on the bottom, this is called fond.  Add a touch of red wine to the pan scrape up the bits into your yummy mixture, this is called deglazing the pan. It makes any dish more flavorful!

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There you have it, caramelized onions.  Our favorite uses are on baked potatoes, sandwiches or on top of a nicely seared steak.

Enjoy! 

Recipes Using Onion

Pot Roast

by (updated 2790 days ago)
Ingredients: Beef Chuck / Butter / Carrots / Onion / Parsley / Rosemary / Thyme

Pot roast is a great way to use chuck roast or another large lean cut. You can toss all the ingredients into a slow cooker and have something good, or you can take these extra steps and make it great. It’s a flexible recipe, just the way we like it! Potatoes can be added, different herbs and spices, make it your own!

Lamb Stock

by
Ingredients: Carrots / Celery / Onion / Rib Racks / Rosemary / Thyme

Lamb rib racks are great. They are inexpensive, and make a wonderful stock for other recipes. The stock is not gamey and is a great substitute for beef stock (even preferred to beef stock as it is so flavorful). This post talk you through making an easy slow cooker stock with lamb rib racks, with a link to an Irish lamb stew to make with it.

Beef Shank Osso Bucco

by
Ingredients: Beef Shank / Garlic / Onion / Rosemary / Thyme / Wines

This one fro Just A Pinch was tested and shared by Fellow Springdellian Pam H. and certified delicious. Pam advocates for a bouquet garni in cheesecloth or a tea ball so as not to have to pick the rosemary needles out of your teeth along the way. Try this one today!