January 19, 2014

French Onion Jam

My favorite food in the entire world is caramelized onions.  They are the perfect combination of sweet and savory and when done correctly make a dish a million times better.  When I was first getting into cooking in high school, I used to make this salad almost every single day with spinach leaves, cucumbers, avocado and a touch of peanut sauce and then top it with a smattering of caramelized onions.  When I finally got a kitchen of my own in college, I would make egg white omelets that started with caramelized onions almost every single day.   If I'm out to eat and there are caramelized onions on a dish, you know that's what I'm going to order.


It is neither socially acceptable nor the basis for a well balanced diet to only eat caramelized onions.  Now, I incorporate them in tarts, pizzas, and anything else I can shove 'em in.  When I'm feeling fancy I pick up a bottle of red (maybe a bottle of white?) and a baguette and make myself a big pot of french onion soup. I've even shared my recipe with you on the blog.  Any time I am dreaming up a recipe or am inspired by something I see or read, there is always a little voice in the back of my head asking "Can this be made better with caramelized onions?"


Last Sunday was no different.  I woke up feeling like I could take on the world and wanted to run every single errand before noon so I could cook all afternoon.  I biked down to my favorite Trader Joe's (to be replaced by the U street TJ's in March!), picked up what I couldn't get there at two other places, and got home in time to force Lisa to go to breakfast with me at our favorite French Bakery.  The just-baked baguettes were calling to me, begging to for some french onion… jam?


Yes, french onion jam!  I did everything I would do to start a french onion soup from cooking the onions low and slow for almost two hours (patience is a virtue), deglazing with red wine, simmering with a little bit of stock to get the flavor of long-cooked soup, and reducing to make the most luscious onion jam I've ever had in my life.  This whole process will take you about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, but I refuse to give you exact times.  Keep the heat low, stay semi-close to the stove (I would check every 5-10 minutes), and trust your gut!


I used the jam in a sort of reconstructed french onion soup sandwich.  Sections of baguette were sliced for sandwiches, slathered with the jam while still hot, covered with thinly sliced gruyere cheese, and topped with a little bit of a baby arugula lettuce mix for some bite.  It could also work at a crostini for a party, like I tried below.  For an extra special touch, you could throw it under the broiler like you do the soup to get the cheese nice and bubbly.


It was a fun and lazy Sunday cooking project that left an almost full bottle wine to be enjoyed with the French Onion Jam sandwiches.  And I am not ashamed to admit that I ate the jam on almost everything for the rest of the week.  Judge me.



French Onion Jam
2 large red onions, sliced thinly
1 large sweet yellow onion, sliced thinly
2 tablespoons bacon fat (butter works too!)
about 6 springs of thyme
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
2 shallots, thinly sliced lengthwise
3-4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
zest of 1 lemon, juice to taste
1/4 cup red wine (use your favorite full bodied wine, mine was a shiraz)
1/4 cup of stock (beef or chicken good here)
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pan over low heat, add the bacon fat (or butter) and melt.  Add the thinly sliced red and yellow onion and the sprigs of thyme.  Season with salt and pepper.

Cook on low heat.  Low and slow will yield the best flavor, avoid browning until the onions want to!

When the onions begin to soften and become fully pliable, add the thinly sliced shallots.  Continue to cook on low.

When the onions and shallots begin to take on some brown color, add the thinly sliced garlic, lemon zest, and crushed red pepper flakes.  Continue to cook on low, adding a little butter or olive oil if the pan is looking dry.

When the onions have really taken on a brown color, as in when you add balsamic vinegar there is little to no change in color, add the balsamic vinegar.  Let reduce, stirring frequently.

At this point, add the red wine and deglaze the pan.  Add the stock (I used chicken) and raise the heat to medium to slowly bring the onions, wine, and stock to a boil.  Reduce back to low, cover the pan, and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Remove the lid, increased the heat back to medium, and cook out the liquid until you have a jam-like consistency.  Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper, and/or lemon juice (if you think it needs a little acid).

Serve up with good french bread and some gruyere cheese.  Enjoy!

55 comments:

  1. WOW! What gorgeous photos. I guess you like caramelized onions, as do I. One of the first things I taught myself to make as a young cook was onion soup. No recipe…I just kept trying. I see we have onions in common! P.S. I'm on wordpress…am leaving blogspot. Make sure and change your link or favorites to http://www.moretimeatthetable.com. Happy Sunday:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am terrible at waiting for onions to caramelize, so kudos to you for being patient for a whole TWO HOURS. But, it definitely pays off with this jam! I'd be spreading that all over everything.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My husband would absolutely swoon at this recipe. Listen for his tears of happiness!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh this sounds so so good! I love the sweet salty tangy flavors together and cannot wait to try recipe :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Onion Jam? How would it taste? I need to give it a try, thanks for sharing the recipe with us, hope it will taste good and worth trying

    ReplyDelete
  6. Certain As i agree an attractive write-up. It truly is fantastic to determine the brand new prototypes about environmental automobiles we are able to invest in on this website. kitchen sinks phoenix az

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice Blog, Visit for the best SEO Service and Website Designing and Development for your business.
    SEO Service in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  8. For best sound and audio engineering course visit our website spingurus.
    audio engineering courses

    ReplyDelete
  9. I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for sharing valuable Information, I really very impressive on your blog. I hope you continue on blogging job.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I’m really amazed with your posting skills as well as with the layout on your blog site. We are top Website Designing Company in Delhi NCR.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Awesome things put in this para, thanks for this. If you need a web design company in india, Dial Web India is one of the best Website Designing and Development Company in Delhi, India for custom website design.
    Website Development Company in India

    ReplyDelete
  13. Amazing blog, thank you so much for sharing this information with us. Get the best Screw Caps Making Machinery and Pilfer Proof Caps Making Machinery in low cost at Sarswati Enterprises in Delhi.
    Screw Caps Making Machinery

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great blog, thanks for sharing with us. Meritidevisa has experienced visa consultants in Delhi. Get the best Immigration consultants in Delhi for Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, UK, and New Zealand.
    Best Immigration Consultants in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  15. Put some more relative information on this, and thank you so much for sharing this. Visit Noble IVF for Top IVF Clinics in Aligarh.
    IVF Centre in Aligarh

    ReplyDelete
  16. Get the Designer Laddu Gopal Poshak and Laddu Gopal Mukut Mala at affordable prices at amfez. Visit our website for more information-
    Designer Laddu Gopal Poshak

    ReplyDelete
  17. Keep it up for more updates. Protrek Adventure provides Annapurna Base Camp Trek, one of the best camp treks in Annapurna region and Sandakphu Trek is the highest peak in west bengal.
    Annapurna Base Camp Trek

    ReplyDelete
  18. Amazing blog, thank you so much for sharing this blog. Visit Gribety Detective India for professional Detective Agency in Jaipur.
    Detective Agency in Jaipur

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for this useful blog you can visit tuliptales.com if you want to buy USB Heated Jacket for winter (Long Sleeves).Do not Wring this jacket by hand

    ReplyDelete
  20. Feeling good to read such a informative blog, mostly i eagerly search for this kind of blog. I really found your blog informative and unique, waiting for your new blog to read. We offers multipl digital marketing service:
    Digital marketing Service in Delhi
    SMM Services
    PPC Services in Delhi
    Website Design & Development Packages
    SEO Services PackagesLocal SEO services
    E-mail marketing services
    YouTube plans

    ReplyDelete
  21. Meet Dr. Sundeep Kochar, One of the Best Astrologer in India. He is Specialist of Astrology, Vastu Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Actor, Anchor, Author & Awarded as “The Most Trusted Astrologer of India”.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great work you have done in article,thanks for sharing.

    ivf clinic in gurgaon

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...