Caramelized to perfection, French onion confit is a versatile delicacy that elevates any dish with its sweet and savory notes. Made with thinly sliced onions slowly cooked in butter or oil until golden brown, this culinary marvel boasts a texture that ranges from soft and spreadable to crispy and crunchy, depending on the cooking time. Its rich, complex flavor profile makes it an ideal accompaniment to a wide range of dishes, from grilled meats and roasted vegetables to salads and sandwiches. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to impress your guests, this comprehensive guide provides three delectable French onion confit recipes that cater to various tastes and preferences. From the classic French onion confit with its traditional preparation to the red wine onion confit with its bold, robust flavor, and the balsamic vinegar onion confit with its tangy, sweet twist, this article offers a culinary journey that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
PAN-SEARED RIB-EYE WITH FRENCH ONION CONFIT
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 1 to 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- For the onion confit: Heat a large enameled cast-iron pot over medium heat. Add the butter; when it begins to foam, add the red onions, marjoram, thyme, bay leaves and sugar, and sprinkle liberally with salt. When the onions begin to caramelize, add the red wine and balsamic vinegar and reduce to dry. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add 1 cup of the beef stock; cook until reduced to a glaze. Repeat until all the beef stock has been used. Turn off the heat and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
- For the rib-eye: Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat; add the oil. Pat the steak dry with paper towels, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. When the oil is just below smoking, place the steak into the pan. Once a nice sear has developed, flip the steak and add the butter, thyme and garlic. If the garlic or steak begins to burn, reduce the heat. Cook, basting the steak with the bubbling butter, until an internal temperature of 125 degrees F has been reached for medium-rare. Remove the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 7 to 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with the French onion confit.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with room temperature water and season liberally with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender. Drain the potatoes, saving 1/2 cup of the cooking water for thinning out if needed.
- Pass the potatoes through a food mill into a large bowl. Add the butter and heavy cream, and fold together with a spatula until combined. Fold in the shredded cheese. If the potatoes get too thick, thin them out with a little of the cooking water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve garnished with chives and a drizzle of olive oil.
QUICK ONION CONFIT
Sweet and tart caramelized onions seasoned with herbs and balsamic vinegar make a terrific quick onion confit recipe. Spread it on bread or serve over steak and potatoes. French confit with onions.
Provided by Rebecca Franklin
Categories Ingredient Condiment
Time 40m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 41 kcal, Carbohydrate 6 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 61 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 2 g, ServingSize 12 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
CONFIT D' OIGNON - FRENCH ONION MARMALADE
I always have at least several jars of Confit d'Oignon in my pantry; it is excellent with so many different types of dishes & recipes. Serve it with charcuterie, terrines & cheeses; it is wonderful added to vegetables, soups, stews, daubes or as a sauce for steaks. I also use it for tarts, quiches & grilled cheese sandwiches. It is well worth making a few jars - it is expensive to buy, even in France; make up several jars when onions are cheap or you have a glut in your garden. You can make it with red or yellow onions, red onions gives the finished confit a fantastic colour! This what I use when I make my Recipe #205353.
Provided by French Tart
Categories Onions
Time 1h20m
Yield 1 300ml Jar
Number Of Ingredients 10
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1841.4, Fat 87.5, SaturatedFat 12.4, Sodium 2425.6, Carbohydrate 249.8, Fiber 17.3, Sugar 194.4, Protein 11.5
DAVID TANIS'S ONION CONFIT
The French word "confit" usually refers to food that is slowly cooked in some kind of fat. Originally, confit was a method used for preserving meat, typically duck, goose or pork. When stored and cooled in earthenware crocks, a layer of fat on top kept the food from spoiling by sealing out air. Onion confit, on the other hand, is a savory preparation of sliced onions, cooked to a soft, almost melting consistency, often seasoned with salt, herbs, sugar and vinegar for a somewhat sweet-and-sour effect. Sometimes called onion marmalade, a spoonful or two makes a perfect accompaniment to roasted meats. It may also be used to make onion tarts or pizzas, or as a "bed" for baked fish. The mixture will last for a week or so, refrigerated. To use, reheat gently over low heat.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories condiments, appetizer
Time 1h
Yield 4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 218, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 24 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 623 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 0 grams
FRENCH ONION TART
Provided by Claire Robinson
Time 55m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a work surface, roll the puff pastry into a roughly 10 by 16-inch rectangle. With a sharp knife, trim uneven edges to make a perfect rectangle. Evenly cut off the outer 1 inch of each side of the rectangle in strips; put the puff sheet on the baking sheet. Dip your finger in water and run around the top edges of the rectangle and replace the removed strips of pastry along the edges of the sheet, pressing lightly to adhere. With a fork, pierce the interior of the tart shell to prevent rising; do not pierce the adhered edges. Bake until the outer edges have puffed and are golden in color; about 15 minutes. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and thyme sprigs and season well with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to brown. Add the stock, a tablespoon at a time, as the pan gets dry, scraping and stirring the brown bits that are stuck to the bottom oft the pan. When the onions are caramelized to a dark golden color, remove from the heat and discard the leafless thyme sprigs (the leaves fall off while cooking).
- When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Evenly spread the caramelized onions on the cooked pastry shell and heat in the oven until warmed through, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven, to a cutting board and cut into wedges. Arrange on a serving platter and garnish each wedge with a sprig of fresh thyme. Serve immediately and enjoy!
FRENCH CANADIAN ONION CONFIT
If you love the smell of onions cooking long and slow until they are sweet and almost burnt, then this recipe should be in your collection. The onions are first fried in butter, then simmered in red wine and a bit of grenadine. The result looks like nothing but tastes like heaven. This unusual condiment is based on a recipe from Au Tournant de la Riviere, one of Canada's best restaurants. Serve it with braised leeks pate or roast meats.
Provided by Olha7397
Categories Canadian
Time 2h20m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a large frying pan, melt the butter and cook the onions very slowly, until they begin to brown. This should take about 30 minutes.
- Press the browned onions to remove the excess butter and drain the pan of the surplus butter.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Cook slowly, uncovered, over low heat for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the onions are very dark or almost black. Stir occasionally to prevent the onions from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Makes 1 cup to serve 4 to 6 as a condiment.
- Across the Table.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 184.2, Fat 5.9, SaturatedFat 3.7, Cholesterol 15.3, Sodium 49.7, Carbohydrate 27.3, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 15.1, Protein 1.6
Tips:
- Use high-quality onions: The quality of your onions will greatly impact the flavor of your confit. Choose firm, sweet onions with no bruises or blemishes.
- Caramelize the onions slowly and patiently: This is the key step in making French onion confit. Cook the onions over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until they are deeply caramelized and have a rich, golden brown color. This process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
- Use a variety of seasonings: In addition to salt and pepper, you can add a variety of seasonings to your confit to enhance the flavor. Try adding herbes de Provence, thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves.
- Store the confit properly: Once you've made your confit, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze the confit for up to 6 months.
Conclusion:
French onion confit is a versatile and delicious condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's perfect for adding a rich, caramelized onion flavor to sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and pasta dishes. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for vegetables, cheese, or bread. No matter how you use it, French onion confit is sure to add a touch of elegance and flavor to your next meal.
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