Confit Onion Food

QUICK ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and demerara sugar and sauté, stirring frequently, until the onions become tender and start to turn golden.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme. Stir the mixture and transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
• Cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are wilted, very soft, and are a medium gold throughout.
• Add the vinegar during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Remove from oven, cool the onions in the pan until they reach room temperature, and then serve.

CARAMELIZED ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil and butter in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
• When the butter foams, add half of the sliced onions and 2 of the bay leaves.
• Sprinkle with half of the sugar and half of the salt.
• Add remaining onions, bay leaves, sugar and salt.
• Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 20 minutes.
• Uncover, stir, and increase heat to medium.
• Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Increase heat to high and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are a deep golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the wine and stir, scraping bottom of pan to dislodge any browned bits.
• Cook for 4 or 5 minutes longer.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

RED ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
• Add the red onions. Do not stir. Let the onions turn light brown, then turn and brown on the other side.
• When the onions are browned, add the balsamic vinegar and orange rind.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the liquid is almost gone.

DAVID TANIS'S ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• Cut onions in half from top to bottom (not crosswise). With a paring knife, peel each onion half. Lay each onion half flat side down. Holding the knife at a slight angle, cut away and discard the hard root end. Using a sharp knife, cut into 1/4-inch half-moons.
• Put a large heavy-bottomed pot, preferably enameled cast iron, over medium-high heat. Melt butter, then add all the sliced onions and stir to coat. Sprinkle with sugar and season generously with salt and pepper. Continue stirring until onions begin to wilt and soften, without browning, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add bay leaves, thyme, cayenne, vinegar and wine. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onion mixture is quite soft and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove and discard bay leaves and thyme. Serve warm.

ONION, ORANGE & CORIANDER CONFIT

Steps:

• Thinly slice the onions (use the slicing blade of the food processor if you have one). Thinly slice the oranges, then cut each slice into quarters.
• Heat the oil and butter in a pan. Add the coriander seeds and peppercorns and fry until they start to smell fragrant. Add the onions and gently fry, stirring, until they start to colour, about 10 mins. Add the oranges and salt, cover then gently cook for 30 mins.
• Add the sugar and vinegars and gently cook, uncovered, for a further 30 mins, stirring from time to time, until the confit is thick. Meanwhile, sterilise your jars then wash them in hot soapy water and rinse well. Boil the lids, which must be vinegar-proof, for 5 mins and leave to dry. Place the jars upright in a roasting tin and put in the oven at 160C/140C fan/gas 3 for 15 mins.
• Remove the jars and set on a board. Fill with the onion confit and screw on the lids. Label and store in a cool, dry place for 2 weeks to allow the flavours to develop. Will keep for up to six months.

CROCK POT ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• If you don't have demi-glace, take 2 cups good-quality stock and reduce to 1/2 cup.
• Place everything in crock pot and thoroughly combine.
• Turn to high, until just before going to bed (about eight hours).
• Stir.
• Turn to low for overnight.
• Upon waking, stir, and turn back to high until finished.
• Water content will vary from onion to onion, so if your confit is still quite watery towards the end, remove lid and allow excess water to cook off.
• This will keep for at least two weeks, covered, in the refrigerator.

CONFIT D'OIGNON - ONION PRESERVE

Steps:

• Peel the onions, top and tail them. Cut them in half, then cut each half into very thin slices or just chop them.
• Put the oil and the onions into a pot, and cook the onions over a low heat until they are transparent.
• When the onions are transparent and tender, add the wine, still over low heat. Add some salt to bring out the flavor, and a little pepper.
• Add the sugar, stirring to blend it.
• Cook this down until the wine is totally cooked away, always over low heat. The consistency should be like a jam, because you will spread this on toasts for the foie gras, and you don't want it to be drippy.
• This shouldn't be too sweet, because it is for meat, but you can up the dose of sugar a little if you want.
• You can add some sultanas and a few cloves while you cook the liquid down to vary the recipe.

CONFIT D' OIGNON - FRENCH ONION MARMALADE

Steps:

• In a heavy frying pan, heat up the olive oil and add the finely sliced onions - toss around to make sure they all have a coating of oil.
• Cover & cook over a gentle heat until they start to colour.
• Add the salt, pepper, bay leaves & rosemary sprigs & cook for a further 20 to 30 minutes, until the herbs have wilted.
• Take off the lid and add the sugar, wine & vinegars.
• Bring them to the boil and keep stirring al the time; then lower the heat & simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes until the liquid is all dissolved and the onions are soft & sticky.
• You will need to be very vigilant towards the end of the cooking - stirring all the time so the onions do not stick and become burnt and scorched.
• Pick out the rosemary & bay leaves and spoon the confit into a clean, dry & sterilised jar & seal straight away.
• Ready to eat after 2 weeks, but better if kept for at least 1-2 months.
• Makes one x 300ml jar - the recipe can easily be increased - use a large preserving pan if necessary.