Roasted Cipollini Onions
These tender little onions are fabulous mixed into scrambled eggs.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1 pounds Cipollini onions, peeled and trimmed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 325°.
2. Melt butter in a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add onions and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and roast, tossing occasionally, until deeply caramelized and tender, about 30 minutes.
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.
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Sweet Onions
This amazing spread is crafted from farm-fresh tomatoes, onions and hunks of roasted garlic.
Ingredients:
1 pound Sungold cherry tomatoes
1 sweet onion, cut into small wedges
¼ cup olive oil
4-5 cloves garlic, peeled
Sea salt
4-5 slices rustic country bread, sliced
Fresh basil, for garnish
Method:
1. Heat your oven to 400°.
2. Place the onion wedges, along with the tomatoes and unpeeled garlic cloves, onto a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and two pinches of kosher salt.
3. Toss until everything is coated, slide into the hot oven, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so. (They’re done when the tomatoes have burst and softened, the onions are soft, and both are browned in places.) In the last 10 minutes of roasting, toast your bread slices.
4. Spread each piece of toasted bread with the flesh of one roasted garlic clove. Arrange toasts on a plate or serving platter, and scrape the roasted tomatoes, onions and pan juices over the top. Sprinkle with a tad more salt, to taste, and the basil, if using.
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.
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.
Roasted Squash & Cipollini Onions
Dark brown sugar and fresh sage leaves lend an autumnal feel to this side dish.
Ingredients:
1 3½-pound winter squash, such as Butternut, Delicata or Golden Nugget, peeled, halved and cut into chunks
4 Cipollini onions, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
Fresh sage leaves
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a large bowl, toss the squash with the onions, olive oil and brown sugar; season with salt and pepper. Spread the squash on a baking sheet. Roast for 1 hour, or until the squash and onions are tender and browned on the edges. Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl.
2. Set a small skillet over moderately high heat. When it is hot, add the butter and cook until bubbling, about 3 minutes. Add the sage leaves and cook for about 2 minutes, until the butter is browned and the leaves are crisp. Season the browned butter and sage with salt, pour over the squash and serve warm.
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.
Roasted Red Peppers, Potatoes & Onions with Rosemary
This easy roasted side dish is fragrant with fresh rosemary.
Ingredients:
1-1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and sliced into halves (if smaller) or quarters (if large)
2-3 Bullhorn peppers, seeded and cut into large chunks
½ red onion, sliced into rounds
1 sprig rosemary, leaves removed and finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons olive or grapeseed oil
½ teaspoon sweet paprika (optional)
Freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Using a large bowl, toss vegetables in oil and spices to coat evenly. Place potatoes, peppers, onion, and rosemary in a baking dish large enough for vegetables to spread out into a single layer. (Don’t crowd, or the vegetables won’t have a chance to crisp and brown. If necessary, divide the vegetables onto two baking sheets.)
2. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or two during roasting, until potatoes are pierced easily with a fork. Remove from the oven, drizzle with about a teaspoon of olive oil and garnish with the fresh parsley.
Oven-Roasted Shiitake Mushroom & Vegetable Salad
This room temperature salad is also wonderful served over grilled slices of polenta.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds baby Shiitake mushrooms, washed
1 large sweet onion, cut into large chunks
â…“ cup olive oil, divided
1 medium zucchini
6 fresh plum tomatoes, seeded and halved
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup sliced fresh basil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
Pinch of hot red pepper flakes
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place mushrooms in a large bowl with onion wedges. Add 4 teaspoons olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss well. Arrange in a single layer on large shallow baking pan and roast uncovered on bottom shelf in 400° oven for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. While the mushrooms and onions are roasting, cut zucchini in half lengthwise and then crosswise into 1-inch pieces and place in the same bowl and add tomatoes; toss with remaining olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place tomatoes cut side up on another baking sheet with zucchini and roast in oven with mushrooms for another 15-20 minutes or until softened and sizzling. Remove vegetables from oven and spoon into a large serving bowl.
3. In a measuring cup combine the vinegar, basil, garlic, hot pepper flakes and parsley and pour over warm vegetables. Toss lightly; serve at room temperature as side dish or on grilled polenta for main course.
Tip: You can also prepare the vegetables in a grill pan on the barbecue.