Ok, so you've probably gathered by now that we go a bit head-over-heels for caramelized onions here at the Kitchn. We've talked about how we make big batches, use them in everything, and then freeze the extra. Well, just what do we mean by "everything"? Read on for our favorite uses for caramelized onions and tell us yours!
Top Five Ways to Use Caramelized Onions
1. Salads: Thin ribbons of caramelized onions add great texture and flavor to any green salad, and they are our choice for our make-ahead pasta salad lunches. Caramelized onions are also great in grain or bean salads served warm or room temperature.
• Make-Ahead Lunch Template: Pasta Salad with Veggies, Cheese, and Greens
• Florida Butter Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon
• Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Fontina
2. Sandwiches: A layer of tender onions are the perfect topping for both burgers and deli-style sandwiches. The deep sweetness goes a long way to making a simple sandwich into something decadent.
3. Pizza or Savory Tart Topping: If you're feeling gourmet, try caramelized onions on top of homemade pizza! We like them best when paired with just a few other toppings so that the flavors of each can stand out. Try these combos:
• Grilled Potato, Gorgonzola, and Proscuitto with Caramelized Onions
• Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onions, and Basil
• Caramelized Onion, Fig, and Arugula
4. Pasta Dishes: Onions form the base of almost all of our pasta sauces, and taking the cooking just a little further into the caramelized stage gives the same sauce just a little more depth and character.
5. Appetizers: Caramelized onions play a staring roll in many of our go-to dinner party appetizers. They can be piled on top of bruschetta with a little wedge of cheese, used to jazz up a basic dip for chips and crackers, or cooked into a frittata to be served in thin wedges.
What are your favorite ways to use caramelized onions?
Related: How to Caramelize Onions
(Image: Flickr member ben30 licensed under Creative Commons)
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Tips & Techniques, Inspiration, Ingredients - Vegetables, Fruits and Vegetables, Recipe Roundup, onions, top five, caramelized onions, flavor booster, flavor builderRelated Links
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Caramelized onions definitely add amazing flavor to any stuffed pasta recipe. I like to do ravioli stuffed with sweet potato, goat cheese and caramelized onion.
view BitchinLifestyle's profile
Breakfast! in quiche, omelettes, egg sandwiches, on top of my bagel and schmear, cooked together with my sausage, mixed in my cheesy grits, topping my biscuits and gravy -- a savory breakfast is always better with caramelized onions.
view mlleErica's profile
Oooo and home fried potatoes with caramelized onions. *drool*
view mlleErica's profile
I'm going to have to try this (freezing the onions, that is). We love that at home and never thought about keeping them in the freezer to use in so many ways. Someone replied to the orignal post that they caramelize them in the crockpot. Would that poster mind expanding on their method? Thanks so much.
view rosebud's profile
They're great in muffins, too, but chop them up. Cheddar and caramelized onion muffins, mmmmm.
My Pakistani friend taught me how to make authentic basmati rice, and she always started it by frying up an onion, then adding water, then rice (and other things). That's still how I make rice now, but if I'm not super hungry and am actually organized, I take the extra time and caramelize the onions. Very worth the time!
view little_melly's profile
I always keep caramelized onions in the freezer in case I need them.
I use them like you in all kinds of recipes including with roasted squash:
http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/seasonal-squash/
http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/onions-offer-layers-of-possibility/
view Dana McCauley's profile
I always make them for Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Baked-Brie-with-Caramelized-Onions-1008; Bon Appétit | December 1995; requested by our friends at every party).
Whatever we haven't used (usually not much) usually gets frozen and eventually used as a pizza topping with mozzarella and chevre.
view sfumato's profile
Carmelized onions make a great addition to a savory pie crust -- I made these awesome little steak pies (made in muffin cups) with a crust that included carmelized onion and they were out of this world and a great little lunchtime treat! It'd probably be good for things like savory pasties, as well!
view SexyAnteater's profile