How to Caramelize Onions

I love caramelized onions. They’re soft and sweet and take any meal up a couple notches with ease. Best of all, they’re extremely versatile. I’ve been known to make a number of dishes inspired by caramelized onions. You can toss them on burgers, hot dogs, chicken, pizza and even pasta. It amazes me how many people don’t know how to caramelize onions and are totally impressed by such a simple addition. Here are easy-peasy instructions for how to caramelize onions and add a little flair to your own recipes.

How to Caramelize Onions
One large onion, any type (I prefer yellow or Vidalia onions)
Two tbsp olive oil
Salt

Cut off the top and bottom of the onion and peel, then chop the onion in half and slice lengthwise as shown.

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Add onions and cook ten minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Sprinkle onions with about a teaspoon of salt.

Cook a few more minutes and then add a couple tablespoons of water and stir.

Cook another 30 minutes, adding water and stirring every few minutes (you may need to start scraping onions off the bottom of the pan with a spatula towards the end) until they are a rich, dark brown color.

Caramelized onions can be eaten on their own as a snack, used in a dish, or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days. Now that you know how to caramelize onions, try experimenting with them in different recipes!