Onions are easier to caramelise if you add 1 simple ingredient to the pan before cooking
Caramelised onions can often take a long time to cook, but it turns out there is a much quicker way to make them in less than 20 minutes using an ingredient most people have in their kitchen.
Autumn is drawing nearer, making this an ideal moment to begin planning warming dinners and ensuring you've got plenty of onions in stock — a key ingredient in countless comforting dishes. Onions reach their peak flavour when caramelised. They'll add depth and sweetness to virtually any meal, though cooking them properly does require considerable time. Preparing caramelised onions can take upwards of an hour, and while they're undeniably delicious, nobody really wants to spend that length of time standing at the hob each evening just to prepare a single ingredient. I'm fond of incorporating caramelised onions into my soups, stews or even serving them with pasta, so I set out to experiment and discover whether there might be a simpler approach.
Following numerous attempts, I've found a method to achieve that sticky, golden result in half the usual time — requiring nothing more than a small amount of bicarbonate of soda. Baking soda may seem an unusual addition, but when combined with onions, it initiates a chemical reaction that accelerates the cooking process.
Typically, onions require lengthy cooking because they possess natural sugars that need considerable time to concentrate sufficiently for caramelisation to occur. However, baking soda is alkaline in nature, meaning even the smallest quantity will increase the pH level of the onions during cooking, which enables the sugars to cook substantially faster.
Using baking soda will render your onions tender, glossy and golden within just 20 minutes instead of an hour, while maintaining their wonderfully rich taste. I'm passionate about preparing caramelised onions to accompany my go-to dinners, and with a touch of baking soda, they're so swift and straightforward to make that they need virtually no effort whatsoever.
Ingredients
- Two large onions
Method:
To start, put the butter or oil in a frying pan over a medium heat on the hob. Slice the onions thinly and add them to the pan once it's heated through.
Season the onions with salt and cook for five minutes until they begin to appear cooked and turn yellow. Be sure to stir from time to time to prevent them from catching on the base of the pan. Once the time has elapsed, scatter the baking soda over the onions and mix thoroughly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and carry on cooking the onions for 10 to 15 minutes.
Continue cooking the onions until they become golden-brown and achieve a jammy consistency. When the onions are caramelised, you can add a dash of white wine or balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pan and enhance the flavour. Your caramelised onions ought to look ideal in just 20 minutes, giving you a truly delicious ingredient to complement your dinner without spending the entire evening in the kitchen.
