My love affair with caramelized onions

Caramelized onions add a wonderful depth of flavor to any dish to which they are added.  There is nothing I love more than a patty melt!! They are perfect on top of a freshly grilled hamburger or hotdog but are equally at home on a more sophisticated dish. They have that amazing golden brown color that can add a great touch to many dishes. Learning how to caramelize onions will add a new dimension to your cooking. 

Onions are filled with wonderful natural sugar. When you are very patient and take the time to cook them slowly and allow the sugars to come out, you will end up with a pan filled with the most delicious slightly brown and sweet onions. The best onions to caramelize are yellow or white onions. These are at their peak in the spring and summer when the skins are thin and the onions are at their sweetest.

The first step in preparing caramelized onions is to peel and slice your onions. One type of onions that are a little easier on your eyes is Vidalia onions. These beauties are sweet and not as strong as other varieties of onions. Remove the outer skin of the onion and then slice with a knife producing thin rings. Then slice the rings in half, break apart so that you have all single pieces.

Place your fry pan on the burner at medium heat and add two tablespoons of virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of butter for the flavor. When the butter has melted, add the onions and toss in the oil butter combination to coat all the pieces.

Using a wooden spoon stir briefly, lower the heat to medium-low and place a cover on the pan. Lift the cover every few minutes and using your wooden spoon, stir the onions. Keep an eye out for any sticking or any pieces that seem to darken too fast. If it is too dark lower the heat, if it is sticking, add a little more olive oil.

Continue to check and stir until your onions reach the correct golden color. At this point, you can add a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper. If you want to add any additional spices at this point you can do so. Total cook time is 15 to 20 minutes.

Depending on what you are planning for dinner tonight, chances are that caramelized onions will fit into your menu. If you are having pizza, they are a wonderful addition and if it is pasta, you can add them easily to your dish. Be creative, you family will love it.