Joy of Cooking Creamed Onions is made of pearl onions, butter, flour, salt, pepper, chicken broth, half-and-half cream, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and optional pimiento strips. It serves 6 and takes about 45 minutes to prepare and bake, offering a creamy, savory side dish.
Try More Joy Of Cooking Recipes:
🤍 Why You’ll Love This Creamed Onions Recipe:
- Classic Comfort Food: With its creamy, savory sauce enveloping tender pearl onions, this dish epitomizes comfort food, perfect for cozy nights or festive dinners.
- Elegant Side Dish: Its elegant presentation, highlighted by the optional pimiento strips, makes it a visually appealing addition to any meal, especially during the holiday season.
- Rich and Flavorful: The combination of a buttery roux, chicken broth, and half-and-half cream creates a rich, deeply flavorful base that perfectly complements the sweetness of the onions.
- Simple Ingredients: The recipe uses straightforward, easily accessible ingredients, making it an easy dish to add to your cooking repertoire without the need for a special shopping trip.
- Comforting Texture: The creamy sauce and tender onions offer a delightful texture contrast, ensuring each bite is satisfying and enjoyable.
❓ What Is Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions Recipe?
Joy of Cooking Creamed Onions recipe features pearl onions in a creamy sauce made with butter, flour, chicken broth, half-and-half cream, seasoned with salt and pepper, enriched with Parmesan cheese and parsley, and optionally garnished with pimiento strips.
🧅 Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions Ingredients
- 4 cups pearl onions
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Dash pepper
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup half-and-half cream
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- Pimiento strips, optional
🥘 How To Make Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions
- Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a Dutch oven or big kettle. Boil for 6-7 minutes, until the pearl onions are soft. Rinse the peel in cold water and drain it. Then set it away.
- Melt the butter in a pot. Add the pepper, salt, and flour and mix well. Slowly stir in the cream and water.
- When it starts to boil, cook and stir it for two minutes, or until it gets thick. Add the onions, cheese, and parsley and mix well.
- Put into a 1-1/2-quart baking dish that hasn’t been oiled. Cover and put in the fridge overnight. Take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you bake it.
- Cover and bake at 350° for 15 minutes. After that, stir. Add pimientos on top if you want to. Cover and bake for another 10 minutes, or until bubbly and hot all the way through.
💭 Recipe Tips:
- Roux Consistency: When making the roux with butter, flour, salt, and pepper, ensure it’s smooth and free of lumps before adding the liquid. This is crucial for a silky sauce.
- Gradual Liquid Addition: Add the chicken broth and half-and-half cream slowly to the roux, stirring constantly to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth, thickened sauce.
- Taste and Adjust: Before adding the onions into the sauce, taste it and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Sometimes, a little extra salt, pepper, or even a dash of nutmeg can enhance the overall flavor.
- Low and Slow Baking: If you have time, consider baking the creamed onions at a lower temperature for a longer period. This can help the flavors meld together even better.
- Broil for Finish: For a golden, crispy top, broil the creamed onions for a few minutes after baking, watching closely to prevent burning. This adds a delightful texture contrast.
🧆 What To Serve Creamed Onions?
Serve creamed onions with roasted meats like turkey, beef, or pork, as a side for holiday dinners, alongside mashed potatoes or green beans, with vegetarian entrees, or as a luxurious addition to a buffet spread for a comforting, elegant touch.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Creamed Onions?
- Refrigerate: Place leftover creamed onions in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: For longer storage, freeze the creamed onions in a freezer-safe container or bag for up 3 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Note that the texture may change slightly due to the cream base.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Creamed Onions?
- In The Microwave: Heat Leftovers Creamed Onions in a microwave-safe dish on medium for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot.
- Oven: Preheat to 350°F cover Leftovers Creamed Onions with foil heat it for 15-20 minutes, until thoroughly heated. Add a bit of milk or cream if needed to adjust consistency.
FAQ’S
Can I use frozen pearl onions instead of fresh?
Yes, you can use frozen pearl onions as a convenient alternative to fresh they do not require peeling and can be used directly in the recipe, reducing preparation time. Thaw and drain them before adding to ensure the best texture.
Can I add cheese to creamed onions for extra flavor?
Absolutely! The recipe already includes Parmesan cheese, but you can also experiment with other cheeses such as Gruyère, cheddar, or Swiss for different flavors.
What’s the best way to peel pearl onions?
The easiest way to peel pearl onions is to blanch them in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. The skins should then slip off easily when you trim the root end and squeeze the onion.
Is it possible to make creamed onions ahead of time?
Yes, creamed onions are an excellent make-ahead dish prepare the recipe up to the point of baking, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come to room temperature for even heating.
How can I thicken the creamed onions sauce if it’s too thin?
If the sauce is too thin, continue cooking over low heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the desired consistency. Alternatively, you can mix a small amount of flour or cornstarch with water to create a slurry and add it to the sauce, cooking until thickened.
More Joy Of Cooking Recipes:
Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions Nutrition Fact
Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 297
- Total Fat: 18.1g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7g
- Cholesterol: 58mg
- Sodium: 101mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 31.4g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 5g
- Protein: 10.8g
Joy Of Cooking Creamed Onions
Description
Joy of Cooking Creamed Onions is made of pearl onions, butter, flour, salt, pepper, chicken broth, half-and-half cream, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and optional pimiento strips. It serves 6 and takes about 45 minutes to prepare and bake, offering a creamy, savory side dish.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a Dutch oven or big kettle. Boil for 6-7 minutes, until the pearl onions are soft. Rinse the peel in cold water and drain it. Then set it away.
- Melt the butter in a pot. Add the pepper, salt, and flour and mix well. Slowly stir in the cream and water.
- When it starts to boil, cook and stir it for two minutes, or until it gets thick. Add the onions, cheese, and parsley and mix well.
- Put into a 1-1/2-quart baking dish that hasn’t been oiled. Cover and put in the fridge overnight. Take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you bake it.
- Cover and bake at 350° for 15 minutes. After that, stir. Add pimientos on top if you want to. Cover and bake for another 10 minutes, or until bubbly and hot all the way through.
Notes
- Roux Consistency: When making the roux with butter, flour, salt, and pepper, ensure it’s smooth and free of lumps before adding the liquid. This is crucial for a silky sauce.
- Gradual Liquid Addition: Add the chicken broth and half-and-half cream slowly to the roux, stirring constantly to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth, thickened sauce.
- Taste and Adjust: Before adding the onions into the sauce, taste it and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Sometimes, a little extra salt, pepper, or even a dash of nutmeg can enhance the overall flavor.
- Low and Slow Baking: If you have time, consider baking the creamed onions at a lower temperature for a longer period. This can help the flavors meld together even better.
- Broil for Finish: For a golden, crispy top, broil the creamed onions for a few minutes after baking, watching closely to prevent burning. This adds a delightful texture contrast.