Little Balsamic-Glazed Onions
Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker
Time: 2 hours. This labor-intensive dish is well worth the effort. To save time, use large pearl onions—or fewer of them—along with the cipollini; the dish won't be as colorful, but it will be just as tasty.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Add half of cipollini to a pot of boiling water; simmer 1 minute, then transfer to a colander with a slotted spoon and immediately rinse with cold water. Repeat with remaining cipollini, then pearl onions (in 2 batches), then garlic.
Step 2
2
With a small, sharp serrated knife, trim root ends and peel onions and garlic on a cutting board, slitting each lengthwise and holding your thumb against the pointy tip to keep its core from squirting out; then trim any fibrous tips. Put onions and garlic in a bowl and drizzle with 1 tbsp. oil, the thyme leaves, pepper, and salt. Mix to coat.
Step 3
3
In a large frying pan, heat remaining 2 tbsp. oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic, and sauté, stirring often, until most are partly browned. Add vinegar and broth; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until onions are tender and some are falling apart, 10 to 20 minutes. Stir in green onions and butter.
Step 4
4
Using a slotted spoon, transfer onions to a serving bowl; cover. Boil sauce over high heat until syrupy and reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 4 minutes. Stir gently into onion mixture; top with thyme sprigs.
Step 5
5
Make ahead: Chill airtight up to 2 days (add green onions and thyme sprigs only at end).
Step 6
6
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds cipollini onions
2 1/2 pounds red pearl onions
2 1/2 heads garlic (optional), separated into cloves
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus several sprigs
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup good-quality balsamic vinegar
1 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 bunch green onions, cut into 2-in. lengths
3 tablespoons butter
Directions
Step 1
1
Add half of cipollini to a pot of boiling water; simmer 1 minute, then transfer to a colander with a slotted spoon and immediately rinse with cold water. Repeat with remaining cipollini, then pearl onions (in 2 batches), then garlic.
Step 2
2
With a small, sharp serrated knife, trim root ends and peel onions and garlic on a cutting board, slitting each lengthwise and holding your thumb against the pointy tip to keep its core from squirting out; then trim any fibrous tips. Put onions and garlic in a bowl and drizzle with 1 tbsp. oil, the thyme leaves, pepper, and salt. Mix to coat.
Step 3
3
In a large frying pan, heat remaining 2 tbsp. oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic, and sauté, stirring often, until most are partly browned. Add vinegar and broth; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until onions are tender and some are falling apart, 10 to 20 minutes. Stir in green onions and butter.
Step 4
4
Using a slotted spoon, transfer onions to a serving bowl; cover. Boil sauce over high heat until syrupy and reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 4 minutes. Stir gently into onion mixture; top with thyme sprigs.
Step 5
5
Make ahead: Chill airtight up to 2 days (add green onions and thyme sprigs only at end).
Step 6
6
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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