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Learn how to caramelize onions to make this perfect spoonful of French onions

How to Caramelize Onions

How to caramelize onions for delicious onions to use in French onion soup or almost any savory dish. A basic caramelized onion recipe.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Course: kitchen basics, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: caramelized onions recipe, French onion recipe. how to make French onions, how to caramelize onions
Author: jfletcher

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
  • 3 pounds of sweet or yellow onions sliced
  • 1/4 cup of white wine or sherry*
  • 6 cloves of garlic pressed (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp dried sage optional
  • 1 tsp of dried thyme optional

Instructions

  • Thinly slice the onions. Add the butter to a cast iron skillet. Melt the butter over medium low to medium heat. Pour the onions in. Add the white wine or sherry, garlic, salt, pepper and spice. Cook over medium heat stirring every few minutes for the first half hour. During the next half hour, stir very frequently, almost constantly, until the onions are soft and deep golden with no white left. This will take about another half an hour.

Notes

You can substitute beer, chicken broth, or beef broth for wine or sherry.
Omit the seasonings if desired.
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