Vidalia Onion Toast Food

CRISPY VIDALIA ONION RINGS IN BUTTERMILK BATTER

Steps:

• In a 3-quart pot, preheat 4-inches oil to 375 degrees F.
• In a shallow bowl, combine flours, cayenne, paprika, salt, and white pepper. Pour the buttermilk into another shallow dish.
• Toss the onion rings in the flour mixture and shake off excess flour. Add to buttermilk mixture and make sure the rings are thoroughly coated. With a clean hand, add rings to flour mix again and shake off any excess flour.
• Begin to fry in preheated oil in small batches, 1/4 of total amount at a time. Cook onion rings for about 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally with metal tongs or slotted spoon, until crispy and browned. Drain on paper towels and keep in warm place (low oven, about 200 degrees F) until ready to serve. Sprinkle with extra salt, if needed.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, sweat onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Add peppers and vegetable stock and stew until 1/2 of stock has evaporated. Add spices and chiles. Cover with vinegar and wine. Allow to cook, uncovered, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Let cool, then puree in a food processor, and season with pepper and salt, to taste.
• Yield: 3 cups Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 1 hour

FRIED VIDALIA ONION

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together the egg and the milk in a medium sized bowl.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt, peppers, oregano, thyme, and cumin.
• Slice 1/2-an inch off the top of the onion and the bottom of the onion. Slice the onion in half, about 3/4-of the way down without slicing all the way through. Slice into quarters, then into 1/8s. Repeat this until you have cut the onion into 14 sections. Spread the "petals" of the onion apart and dip the onion in the milk mixture. Then coat it liberally with the dry ingredients. Separate the "petals" and sprinkle the dry coating between them.
• Place the battered onion in the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray and season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, combine ingredients and whisk together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with Fried Vidalia Onion.

BAKED VIDALIA ONIONS

Steps:

• Quarter onions halfway through and open slightly. Place each on a 18x12-in. piece of heavy-duty foil. Place 2 teaspoons butter in center of each onion; sprinkle with salt, pepper and, if desired, garlic salt. Fold foil to seal tightly. Bake at 350° until onions are tender, 50-60 minutes. Open foil carefully to allow steam to escape.

VIDALIA ONION TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º.
• Combine onion, mayo, and cheese in a bowl and mix until well combined.
• Spread mixture on the bread slices and sprinkle with paprika.
• Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

VIDALIA ONION POT ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Season the beef brisket well with salt and pepper. Crush the thyme and rosemary together with a mortar and pestle and rub the herb mix into the beef, coating it evenly. Rub the beef well with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
• Heat a large saute pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until the pan is nearly smoking. Add the beef to the hot pan and sear well on one side until browned before turning the beef over and searing the other side. When the beef has been well browned on both sides, remove from the pan and set aside.
• Add the onions to the saute pan and cook them until golden brown. Add the red wine to the onions and reduce by half.
• Pour the onions into a large heavy roasting pan and spread evenly across the bottom before putting the beef on the bed of onions. Add the carrots, garlic, hot beef/water and celery bundle to the beef in the roasting pan and place, uncovered, into the oven. All the combined liquid should rise only 2/3 as high as the meat is thick. Add additional water to maintain the braising liquid height.
• Cook for 1 hour before turning the beef over. Cook the second side uncovered for 1 hour before covering the pan with a cover or foil and turning the oven down to 325 degrees. Continue to slowly braise the beef brisket for 1 1/2 to 2 additional hours.
• Remove the pan from the oven, discard the celery bouquet and allow the beef to rest for 20 minutes before slicing and serving with some of the onion jus.

VIDALIA ONION CONFIT WITH GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack 4 inches below the broiler element and preheat the broiler. To make the toasts, arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush on one side with some of the olive oil. Broil until brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the toasts and broil the other side. Remove the toasts from the oven and while warm, rub one side of each toast with the cut surfaces of the garlic clove. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• To make the confit, heat the butter and remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sugar, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until the wine is reduced and the onions are a deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Add the thyme; taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To serve, place the reserved toasts on a large serving platter and top each piece with a spoonful of confit. Garnish each with a sprig of thyme.
• making ahead
• The toasts can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored at room temperature in an airtight container. The confit can also be made ahead and will actually improve as the flavors marry. Refrigerate the confit in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• storing onions
• Onions need circulating air to stay fresh. Vidalia onions are particularly tricky due to their high sugar content. One of the best ways to store Vidalia onions is in the cut-off legs of pantyhose: drop an onion down the leg, tie a knot, and repeat. Hang the onion-filled hose from a hook in a cool, dry place. They will keep for months. Alternatively, wrap them separately in paper towels and refrigerate.

QUICK-PICKLED VIDALIA AND RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Wash one glass 1/2-gallon jar with a lid in hot, soapy water, and rinse well. Toast coriander in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add mustard seeds and toast for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Set aside.
• Combine water, vinegar, salt, and sugar in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook until sugar and salt have dissolved. Add reserved coriander and mustard seeds; remove from heat, and set aside.
• Fill jar halfway with either Vidalia or red onion slices. Add bay leaves and thyme; cover with remaining onion slices, packing them with the back of a clean spoon. Leave 3/4 inch of space beneath the rim. Pour hot liquid over onions covering them by 1/4-inch and leaving 1/2-inch of pace beneath the rim. Place lid on the jar, and let stand until cool. Store in the refrigerator, serve within a week.

HONEY ROASTED VIDALIA ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Peel onions and cut in half crosswise.
• Place onions, cut sides down, in an 8 inch square baking dish, drizzle with water. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Combine honey and remaining ingredients.
• Turn onions over. Brush half of the honey mixture over the onions.
• Bake, uncovered, an additional 30 minutes or until tender, basting with remaining honey mixture after 15 minutes.