Make Melted Onions In A Muffin Pan For A Uniquely Rich Side Dish
Onions transform into a savory delicacy when they are roasted in the oven in a little butter or oil. As their sugars caramelize, their taste mellows, and they become sweet while their texture becomes velvety and tender. And for a dish so luxurious, melted onions couldn't be easier to make, using a few simple ingredients and an ever-versatile muffin tin. The deep compartments of a muffin tin are perfect for for roasting onion halves. Plus, it also makes for easy clean-up.
Melted onions require minimal effort, with your oven (and your muffin tin) doing most of the work. Your onion halves will roast in the oven for about an hour, turned gooey and rich and ultra flavorful. They make for a delicious and fancy appetizer, or the perfect side dish alongside a steak or other favored protein. And don't be afraid to experiment with melted onions. Their rich complexity of taste is lovely atop a sandwich or added as a pizza topping, too.
Tips to elevate your muffin-pan onions
Before you get started with your roasting, you want to clean your onions and let them soak in water for about an hour. This extra step is going to make their taste and aroma even more intense. After you've prepped your onions, cut them in half and place them in the compartments of your muffin tin. Roast the onions at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes until they start to get aromatic and soft.
Next, to amp up the flavor, simply brush them with the fat of your choice. Butter or olive oil both are flavorful choices. Sprinkle the onion halves with a little salt and pepper along with some breadcrumbs if you want to add to their texture and taste. Then, continue baking the onions until they are soft, golden, and a little charred, about another 30-40 minutes. Be sure to allow the onions to cool for a few minutes before serving them up.
If you do not have a muffin tin, you can still make melted onions, just use an ovenproof pan that allows you to arrange them snuggly together so they do not fall apart. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.