Chef Notes

An alternate method of caramelizing onion is to cook them over low heat for 40 minutes to an hour. Stir the onions occasionally, but not frequently. This method will result in onions that are more tender with a richer caramelized flavor.

Caramelization is the browning of sugar, a process that results in a sweet, nutty flavor. Caramelizing onions will release special sugars, and yeild a sweet, "caramel" taste. 

Chef Bryon demonstrates how to caramelize onions with Spanish onions, but any other variety can be used. Spanish onions produce a nice balance of sweet and savory. The higher the sugar content, the shorter the onions will need to caramelize. 

A julienne cut is a thin, stick-shsaped cut. To cut julienne, simply cut from a squared off item, and slice the ingredient length-wise at a thickness of 1 to 2 millimeters. Repeat the process on the new thin slices. the end product should resemble tiny matchsticks.

A Brunoise dice starts with a julienne cut. Once the julienne cuts have been made, bunch the sticks up and cut into equally shaped dice pieces. 

Using a steel or cast iron skillet will lead to some of the sugars building up on the bottom of the pan. Scrape them up and blend them back into the onions to achieve a richer, deeper flavor.

Caramelized onions can be prepared in large batches and then frozen in individual servings for future use.

Oils with smoke points that are higher than their cooking temperatures are ideal for frying. Unrefined nut and olive oils have low smoke points and should generally not be used for high temperature frying. Soybean, vegetable, and canola oils are preferred.