Description
Ina Garten’s creamed onions elevate simple pearl onions into a luxurious side dish with rich, velvety cream and delicate seasoning. Gentle simmering and careful layering of flavors create a sophisticated accompaniment you’ll want to savor alongside roasted meats or holiday meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) sweet onions (Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui onions)
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk, scalded
- 1 cup (100 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, divided
Pantry Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) cream sherry
- ½ cup (60 grams) panko crumbs
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the cooking environment by heating the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly coating a medium-sized gratin dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Carefully slice onions in half lengthwise, remove the outer papery skin, and cut each half into thick, robust wedges that will hold their shape during cooking.
- Transform the onions into a rich, golden delicacy by melting 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Gently add onion wedges and allow them to slowly caramelize, stirring occasionally until they become soft, sweet, and deep amber-colored, which requires approximately 40 minutes of patient cooking.
- Deglaze the onion pan with sherry, letting the liquid simmer and completely evaporate, concentrating the flavor and creating a more intense taste profile.
- In the same Dutch oven, melt an additional 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) of butter. Sprinkle flour into the melted butter and cook for one minute to eliminate the raw flour taste, creating a smooth roux.
- Gradually pour in the scalded milk, whisking continuously to create a velvety smooth cheese sauce. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove the sauce from heat and fold in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall flavor.
- Combine the caramelized onions with the creamy cheese sauce, mixing gently to ensure even distribution. Transfer the mixture to the prepared gratin dish.
- Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of butter and toss with panko breadcrumbs to create a crisp, golden topping. Evenly sprinkle this mixture over the onion and cheese sauce.
- Place the gratin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the edges become bubbly and crisp.
Notes
- Elevate your holiday feast with this luxurious side dish that transforms ordinary onions into a creamy, flavor-packed sensation.
- Choose sweet yellow or white onions that become incredibly tender and mellow during the slow cooking process.
- Caramelizing onions develops a deep, rich sweetness that creates an unbelievable depth of flavor throughout the dish.
- The panko breadcrumb topping adds a stunning golden crunch that perfectly contrasts the silky smooth sauce underneath.
- Prepare this make-ahead marvel in advance, making it a stress-free addition to your most elegant dinner gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 223
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 247 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 36 mg