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Soup's On: Easy French Onion Soup

Susannah Chen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:36:00 PST

My new favorite weeknight meal is a soup recipe that comes together in minutes. It's a very abbreviated version of French onion soup, which traditionally begins with yellow onions, cooked down and reduced for hours until dark and sweet. This quick and dirty version begins with our butter-braised onions, which I always keep on hand, and calls for little more than broth, bread, and cheese. It may not be an exact replica, but this fast soup hits the spot on a cold Winter day, and it's an easily transportable work lunch, too. Read on for the recipe.

How to Chop an Onion

Susannah Chen — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:45:16 PST

Hate chopping up a storm in the kitchen? Don't let the act of cutting an onion frustrate you to tears. There is, in fact, an efficient way to cut small, evenly sized pieces every single time. Watch this video to learn the right way to chop an onion - then grab a sharp knife and your favorite onion variety to try out our foolproof method yourself!

12 Days of Edible Gifts: Butter-Braised Onions

Susannah Chen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:52:49 PST

It's nice to imagine a perfect world in which everyone's a meticulously detailed home cook, but the truth of the matter is, even a frequent kitchen dweller like myself is often simply looking to make the speediest dinner possible.

So when it comes to homemade edible gifts, I'm fond of gifting my friends what Thomas Keller has called "lifesavers" - those flavor-filled building blocks that add depth to what would be an otherwise-blasé meal. Eight-hour butter-braised onions may sound fancy, but in reality, all you need are three ingredients and a slow cooker.

I love to package these in quaint French terrine jars, with a little note that offers up easy serving suggestions. Some of my favorites? This fast French onion soup or a caramelized onion tart. These sweet, creamy-soft onions are wonderful as a crostini topping, too. Eager for the recipe yet? Then keep reading to make your own butter-braised onions.

Good-For-You Reasons to Love Red Onions

Heather Dale — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:44:07 PDT

Onions may stink up our kitchens, give us bad breath, and make us cry when cutting them, but despite these minor annoyances, they are actually full of healthy goodness.

Onions contain a high amount of polyphenols, a type of phytonutrient, which includes disease-protecting flavonoids and tannins. In fact, onions are one of the most polyphenol-packed foods you can eat.

Keep reading to learn more about the health benefits associated with red onions.

Stop the Tears: Chop an Onion Without the Waterworks

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:00:01 PDT

Chopping an onion is one of the most basic skills every home cook should have under her belt. If you're interested in a simple method, be sure to check out our onion chopping tutorial. While no tears are shed in the video, I know this problem plagues more than a handful of folks.

I, for one, used to see my tears well up in mere anticipation of the task at hand. Here are a few tips and tricks to make those painful, pesky tears stop and allow the chopping to ensue. Keep reading to learn how to stop crying and start chopping.

What's Your Go-To Onion?

Susannah Chen — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:44:22 PDT

Onions are the ultimate aromatic and always in my larder. I add them to everything, from scrambled eggs to sautéed greens. But I confess to having allegiances. When a recipe doesn't call for a specific onion, I always use the yellow varieties; in my opinion, the golden-skinned beauties are softer, sweeter, and not as harsh as their red and white counterparts. What's your personal favorite?

Irish Onion Soup Is a St. Patrick's Day Must Make

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:00:29 PST

You're probably scratching your head wondering why this picture, which looks strangely like French onion soup, is labeled Irish onion soup. Well, let me explain. It's a jazzed up variation of the classic onion and bread-topped soup that uses two important Irish ingredients: Guinness and cheddar cheese. It has the same flavors as the traditional rendition, but the beer provides a delicious complexity, and the cheese adds a delicate nuttiness. It's so good that it might just be my new favorite French onion soup recipe! I highly recommend you serve it tonight or on St. Patrick's Day. Learn how to make it now.

How to Prepare Onions the Scott Conant Way

Susannah Chen — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:44:11 PST

When I met Scott Conant of Food Network's Chopped and 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, the first question out of my mouth had to be about the onions. The chef and restaurateur's notorious criticism of raw, red onions is so well-documented that even Facebook runs rampant with pages like, "Shut up, Scott Conant, we don't care if you have an aversion to raw onions!" But Conant wants to set the record straight: he's not raising any stink over red onions.

"I don't hate red onions . . . I have a lot of them on my menu," he explained. "There are big things that get edited out of these [TV] shows. When I explain my thought process on red onions, all too often, what happens is, is that it's not interesting - what's interesting is the reaction."

You heard it from Scott Conant himself: he doesn't dislike onions. A few ways chef Scott likes to prepare onions, when you read more.

Savory Sight: Steak With Drunken Onions & Dijon Potatoes

Yum Community — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:55:49 PST

We love a fun variation of meat and potatoes like kateparham's steak with drunken onions and Dijon potatoes.

I sincerely hope that your mouth filled with saliva upon reading the title of this recipe post - it’s that good. Steak is already delicious on its own, but top it with onions cooked in beer and we’re in a whole new ballpark. Rib eyes were on sale at Central Market this week, so that’s the cut I went with. Season liberally with salt & pepper on both sides. This is where I hand it off to the boy to handle the grilling. I don’t know what he does, but whatever it is, it’s good!

Check out Kate's blog for all the details on how the meat and potatoes are made. And if you're interested in being featured on YumSugar, get started by participating in the community! You can upload photos, recipes, tips, and questions.

Must Make: Roast Chicken With Oranges and Onions

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:06:56 PST

The January issue of Martha Stewart Living has an amazing article on roast chicken. Since roast chicken is one of the most comforting meals, I've been experimenting with the enticing recipes. There's five fabulous variations, but my favorite is the one seen here for garlic-butter rubbed chicken with roasted oranges and red onions.

The technique and ingredients are simple, but the resulting chicken is juicy, succulent, and intensely delicious. Now is the perfect time to make this chicken because oranges are in season, and they're the major flavoring agent. The zest seeps into the chicken and permeates it with orange essence. I served it with white beans, but it would pair nicely with potatoes or rice. Get the recipe, after the break.