Caramelised Onions
Post first written in January 2015, refreshed and updated November 2021
In Meal Plan 2, there are 750g of onions left after all the recipes have been made, so I thought I’d use them to make this very useful condiment to use as you wish throughout the week. Onions cooked this way are delicious and very versatile. This quantity will make about 1 jam jar full.
Use a spoonful with plain pancakes (without the raisins), on the side with tomato dhal, with the olive drop scones, with the pasta, tomato, olives and soft cheese, or anywhere else you would like some.
And if you aren’t following Meal Plan 2, they are a useful addition to any kitchen cupboard.
How To Make Caramelised Onions
Peel and slice them into crescents, season, and cook slowly, covered, for 30-45 minutes, over a low heat in 2 tbslps of oil. Keep stirring them every few minutes and make sure they don’t catch. If they look like they might, add a couple of tblsps of water. That’s it, all done.
Long, slow cooking caramelises the sugars and brings out the sweetness of onions, enabling them to be used as a condiment. We don’t have any other flavourings available in Meal Plan 2, and the onions are delicious just as they are.
What Are Caramelized Onions Like?
Onions are a flavour powerhouse. They are sweet, savoury and pungent all at once. Caramelised onions have all that umami flavour concentrated and are very useful
Variations for Caramelised Onions
If you do have flavourings in your larder, it will be worth experimenting, or ringing the changes.
- A bit of butter,
- balsamic vinegar
- or a tblsp of muscovado will all help deepen the flavour.
- Or perhaps a few thyme leaves,
- or bay,
- or possibly rosemary infused in with the cooking onions.
For meal plan 2, use your onions throughout the week to add flavour wherever you want it. Add a spoonful in your lentil soup, or add a little to the pasta or stuffed pancakes, use as a side with the Tomato Dahl. If you’re not following the meal plan, they can be used to flavour hoummous, in onion tarts and are simply delicious as a sandwich filling with cheese or cold meats.
These feature in Meal Plan 2, a complete 7 day plan for 2 adults. Contains 3 meals a day, plus snacks , all recipes and a shopping list
Instructions
- Peel and slice the onions into crescents.
- Cook slowly, covered, for 30-45 minutes, over a low heat in 2 tbslps of oil. Keep stirring them every few minutes and make sure they don’t catch. If they look like they might, add a couple of tblsps of water.
- Long, slow cooking caramelises the sugars and brings out the sweetness of onions, enabling them to be used as a condiment. Store in the fridge, in a lidded jam jar or similar.
that’s a good idea, they take ages to cook, so having some on hand when you just want a little would be nice
I caremalise big batches of onions in the slow cooker then freeze portions in a patty tray.. store frozen portions in a ziplock bag for easy access..
I have kept them for a couple of weeks, but they generally get used long before that. I have never frozen any, but I see no reason why they wouldn’t. The onions are already softened, and there is nothing else in the to get damaged by freezing and thawing. I would try freezing a tblsp overnight, then thawing it the next day and see what happens
Sounds delicious 🙂 how long will it last in a jar in the fridge? Does it freeze well?
I tried some on oatcakes, they were delish
The picture came from Google, wish my pictures came out that well!
Lesley
That is a great photo of caramelized onions! I’ll be making some today. Yum!!