Onions au Gratin

If you like French Onion Soup, you’re going to LOVE this dish.  While certainly a sure-fire hit in the fall, this delicacy is welcome any time of the year.   There’s nothing sweeter than fresh sweet onions during season and this recipe takes full advantage. 

Taken from the magazine, Cuisine at home, it’s simple and easy to make, much like homemade French Onion Soup.   And worth every minute.   Sliced onions cooked until they caramelize are s a sure winner in any household, and when you add cheese, the whole world turns sweeter.   Especially when we’re taking Gruyère cheese.   Mmmmmmmm…………..

Onions au Gratin

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

8 cups sliced sweet onions

1/2 cup dry sherry or chicken broth (I used sherry)

2 bay leaves

1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1/2 cup shredded Gruyère cheese

1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved (I skipped these)

Preheat oven to 400*

Melt butter in a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet over medium heat.  Add onions, stirring until slightly softened to make room in the pan (I don’t know what this means —  I just sautéed the correct amount of onions); cover and cook until completely softened, 10 minutes.

Add sherry, thyme, and bay leaves; increase heat to medium-high.  Saute, uncovered, until the liquid evaporates and onions are browning, stirring occasionally, 10-15 minutes (mine may have been 20 minutes, but caramelizing onions is a fairly forgiving process).

Combine cheeses, then stir 1/2 cup of cheese mixture into onion mixture.  Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until cheese is bubbly and browned, about  20 minutes.

Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves, then sprinkle with olives.  Let stand to cool slightly before serving.

Makes 4 servings.   Total time: approx. 50 minutes.

Cuisine at home is a great publication.  Not only does it offer phenomenal recipes, but it includes color photographs of the cooking process.  Indispensible for novices like myself!