How-To: Peel Pearl Onions
Master the art of peeling these petite beauties in just a few simple steps.
Ingredients:
Pearl onions
Tools:
Medium saucepan
Colander
Large bowl filled with ice and water
Kitchen knife
Method:
1. Fill the saucepan with water and set it over high heat. Once the water reaches a boil, add the desired number of pearl onions to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat, drain using a colander and then plunge the pearl onions into the ice bath in the large bowl.
3. Allow to soak for a few minutes, then drain the onions. Using a sharp kitchen knife, trim the root end of each onion. Then, using your pointer finger and thumb, squeeze the onion until the flesh pops away from the outer peel. Pull off any remaining excess skin, then repeat with remaining onions and reserve for your desired use.
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Baked Caramelized Onions
Whip up a batch at the beginning of the week, then enjoy these beauties tossed with roasted vegetables, incorporated into sandwiches or mixed into scrambled eggs all week long!
Ingredients:
5 pounds yellow or red onions, or a mixture of both (about 5-6 onions total)
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon salt
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Peel and trim onions, then half and cut into ¼-inch slices.
2. Place onion slices into a large stockpot or Dutch oven, then drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt, tossing to distribute. Cover and place in oven.
3. Bake onions for 2 to 2½ hours until golden brown, stirring the onions every 15 minutes or so, scraping the sides of the pot so that the onions do not stick. Store the caramelized onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
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English Shelling Peas with Parsley Compound Butter & Mint
This beautiful spring side is accented by stewed pearl onions, fresh Romaine and bright mint.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups freshly-shelled English peas
6-8 pearl onions
½ cup chicken stock
1 cup thinly-sliced baby Romaine
3 tablespoons fresh mint
1 tablespoon Farm & Larder parsley compound butter, at room temperature
Method:
1. To peel onions, trim root ends of onion, and drop in a stockpot of cold water. Season with salt. Bring water to a boil, quickly blanching onions until just tender, about 1 minute. Strain and rinse onions with cold water. Gently squeeze the pointed, non-root tip of each onion, the tender flesh will pop right out.
2. Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add peas and onions and simmer until peas are heated through, and onions begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
3. Add in Romaine lettuce and fresh mint. Toss to coat with parsley compound butter. Season with salt as needed.
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Glazed Pearl Onions
The longer these cook, the sweeter and more caramelized they will become.
Ingredients:
1 pound pearl onions, peeled
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1½ teaspoons fresh thyme, leaves removed from sprigs
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onions. Cook, tossing occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
2. Sprinkle with sugar; season with salt and pepper. Add â…” cup water and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender and liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes.
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Roasted Walla Walla Onions with Pine Nut Butter
This classic side dish from Tom Douglas’ Dahlia Lounge restaurant is often served over a bed of sautéed Swiss chard.
Ingredients:
4 medium Walla Walla sweet onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup pine nuts, toasted
3 ounces unsalted butter, softened
½ teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
â…“ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Additional pine nuts, lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Peel onions and cut them in half, top to bottom. Brush onions with oil and place cut side down on a preheated grill or grill pan. Barbecue until grill marks form. Place on a cookie sheet and finish cooking in the oven until tender, about 25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the pine nut butter. Place the ½ cup pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until finely ground. Add butter, lemon zest, rosemary, black pepper and salt. Process until mixture is well blended. Spread the tender onions liberally with pine nut butter. Return to the oven to cook just until butter is melted, about 2 minutes.
3. Serve onions warm, sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese and additional toasted pine nuts. Garnish plates with lemon wedges and rosemary sprigs if desired.
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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Roasted Sweet Onions
Roasted sweet onion adds a wonderful depth of flavor to this refreshing salad.
Ingredients:
2 sweet onions, peeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick rings
2 heirloom or other summer tomatoes, chopped
2 small ears of corn, shucked, blanched and kernels removed
1 scallion, diced
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
10 basil leaves, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange the sliced onion rings on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle generously with sea salt, tossing to coat onions on both sides. Roast for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through until onions are brown and soft. Remove from onion, allow to cool, then roughly chop.
2. In a large bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, corn kernels and scallion. Add roasted onions and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together honey with sherry vinegar, then add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper then whisk well to combine. Drizzle dressing over the salad to taste and top with basil.
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Roasted Squash & Spinach Quiche
Dotted with balsamic vinegar caramelized onions, roasted squash and fresh spinach, this quiche is incredibly delicious, yet healthful.
Ingredients:
1 yellow onion, or 3 Cipollini onions, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1½ cups Turk’s Turban squash (or other winter squash of your choice), cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup whole milk
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
½ teaspoon fresh thyme
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup packed spinach leaves
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 pre-prepared pie crust
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Roll the prepared crust into a 12-inch circle (to fit a 9-inch pie pan). Prick it all over with a fork. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
2. To make the filling: Quarter the onion, and slice thinly. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and deep golden brown. (This will take about 20 minutes). Right before the onion finishes cooking, add balsamic vinegar to the pan and cook for a few more minutes. While the onion is caramelizing, spread the cubed squash on a baking sheet and toss it with the remaining olive oil, along with dashes of salt and pepper. Roast the squash until it starts to brown and soften, about 20 minutes as well. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Add the rosemary, thyme, cheese, salt, and pepper to the eggs. Place the caramelized onions, roasted squash, and baby spinach in the pie pan. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables.
3. While the onion is caramelizing, spread the cubed squash on a baking sheet and toss it with the remaining olive oil, along with dashes of salt and pepper. Roast the squash until it starts to brown and soften, about 20 minutes as well.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Add the rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the caramelized onions, roasted squash, grated cheese, and baby spinach. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
5. Bake the quiche for about 40 to 45 minutes. The edges should be golden brown and the center should feel just set. Remove the quiche from the oven and let it cool on a rack. Serve warm, or at room temperature.
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Sautéed Frying Peppers & Onions with Roasted Potatoes
Tossed with onions and roasted potatoes, these peppers are just as wonderful for brunch as they are for dinner!
Ingredients:
4 Jimmy Nardello peppers
2 Cipollini onions
1 pound French fingerling potatoes
4-6 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Slice the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the stem and any seeds. If there are any large, thick ribs, remove them as well. Peel and slice Cipollini onions into 1-inch chunks.
2. Heat a large, seasoned cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until searingly hot. Reduce the heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the peppers and onions in a single layer. Cook without stirring or moving for 5 minutes, letting the steam build up under the peppers to soften. Flip with tongs and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes more, letting both peppers and onions blister and char in the oil.
3. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. Wash fingerlings and slice into bite-sized chunks, then toss with 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus sea salt and fresh pepper to taste. Spread potatoes on sheet pan and roast for approximately 30-40 minutes, until cooked through and browned.
4. Add potatoes to skillet with peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper if needed, serve hot.
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Grilled Salad Onions with Lemon & Oregano
This recipe elevates spring salad onions from garnish to stunning side dish.
Ingredients:
1 bunch salad onions, trimmed of root ends
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat grill to high. Place onions on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil to coat. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the top then sprinkle with the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Toss again to spread out the seasonings.
2. Grill onions until the white flesh is soft and just beginning to char. Remove from grill and squeeze a little more lemon juice over top and garnish with chopped oregano.
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Grilled Green Onions
Sweet and delicious with green tops, these onions are at their best grilled.
Ingredients:
Whole green onions with tops
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium heat.
2. Wash and trim any roots from bottom of onions. Then, trim onions to approximately 12 inches in length and slice in half lengthwise, leaving green tops attached.
3. Spray or brush baking sheet with olive oil. Brush onion halves with olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Grill the onions until tender and caramelized. If desired, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with fresh herbs before serving.
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