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Essentials: Onions Three Ways

Source of Recipe

From "Williams-Sonoma: Burger Night"


Recipe Introduction

"Versatile flavor: Of course you can always add slices of raw onion to top a burger, but cooking onions releases their sweet quality and adds depth of flavor. The trick to grilling onions is to carefully keep them in thick slices so that they don't fall apart and slide through the grates. Using a flat spatula will help hold them together when you flip them."

List of Ingredients

For the Grilled Onions:
â—¦ 1 yellow onion, cut into ½-inch slices
â—¦ 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Caramelized Onions:
â—¦ 2 tablespoons olive oil
â—¦ 2 yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
â—¦ 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

For the Onion-Bacon Sauté:
â—¦ 4 slices thick-cut bacon
â—¦ 2 yellow onions, halved and cut into ¼-inch slices

â—¦ Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper for seasoning



Recipe

To make the Grilled Onions:
Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill to medium-high. Brush both sides of the onion slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the onions on the grill grate directly over the heat and cook, turning once with a flat spatula, until nicely grill-marked, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the onions to a cutting board and cut each slice in half, separating the individual rings. Serve right away.

To make the Caramelized Onions:
Warm the olive oil in a nonstick frying pan over high heat. Add the onions and sauté, stirring often, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn deep brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar. The caramelized onions can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving.

To make the Onion-Bacon Sauté:
In a frying pan over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until crispy, about 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. When the bacon is cool enough to handle, tear it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside. Pour off the excess grease from the pan and discard, but don't wipe the pan clean. Return the pan to medium-high heat and add the onions. Toss the onions to coat in the remaining bacon grease. Season with salt and pepper and sauté, stirring frequently, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add to the pan and cook just until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Serve right away.


Makes about 1 cup
(enough to top 4 to 6 burgers)