Today we will teach you how to prepare the recipe to make caramelized or confit onion, an element that cannot be missing in roasts or stews of meat, chicken and pork. It is very easy and you will need few ingredients.
The key is to let the onion cook in its own juices while constantly stirring. At the end you will get a brownish color that even works as a garnish for meals.
Ingredients to make caramelized onion
- 1 kg of onions chopped in julienne (strips) or brunoise (squares). Check out this trick to avoid crying when you cut them .
- 10 ml of oil. Although the olive is healthier and provides greater flavor, you can use the vegetable or corn without representing any problem.
- A pinch of salt, which will enhance the flavor.
- One teaspoon of baking soda (this is optional).
Preparation of candied onion in 3 steps
- Place the onion and oil over low heat, add the pinch of salt.
- Stir constantly to avoid burning. This will take between 30 and 45 minutes. The process to which the onion is subjected in this preparation is called the Maillard Reaction , which consists of the sugars and proteins being oxidized by the hot temperature, thus creating a golden or brown color that is accompanied by an intense aroma.
- If you do not have much time to wait for the cooking period to complete, after 5 minutes of poaching the onion, add the teaspoon of bicarbonate. This will speed up the result.
Tricks of caramelized onion
- When the onion is beginning to adopt the brown color you can add water, just 2 or 3 tablespoons, this will allow it to be looser.
- You can also add white or brown sugar to make the sweetness more intense, but do it after 30 minutes of cooking. The measure for each kilo of onion is 2 tablespoons of sugar .
- Honey is a healthy alternative to sugar and works perfectly for caramelizing. If you decide to use it, before adding it to the pan, mix it with a splash of vinegar. You will get a delicious taste.
- It is possible to use butter instead of oil , in fact, its flavor is stronger and will give an extra impact to the reduction.
- Cover the pan for faster cooking.
- To add a touch of acidity, add a splash of balsamic vinegar when you put the onions to cook.
- When the preparation cools, you can store it in a glass container and put it in the fridge, so you will have it available for a whole week.
- Something fundamental is not to let it burn , so that it does not have an undesirable bitter taste.
Microwave caramelised onion
The recipe to make caramelized onion can be executed faster in the microwave , without losing any essence. Check out the steps you must follow:
- Place the chopped onion next to the melted oil or butter in a microwave-safe container with a lid.
- Set the time for 10 minutes, at a power of 800W.
- Remove the container every 2 minutes and stir. This in order for the ingredients and juices to blend properly.
The reduction in the microwave is done in less time, but if you are not aware of removing and moving the content, some cuts will caramelize and others will not.
