Caramelized Sweet Red Onion Relish Recipe (2024)

Caramelized onion relish is a versatile and flavorful condiment that can elevate your culinary creations. Made from a variety of onions, such as sweet or red onions, this delicious topping is simmered with sugar and balsamic vinegar resulting in a sweet, and caramelized flavor. It is a versatile condiment that adds a tangy flavor to various dishes, such as hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue meat, matured cheese, and foie gras.

When it comes to preparing an onion relish to suit your taste buds, you have several options, including red onion relish, or sweet onion relish recipe.

Regardless of the variety, the magic of this condiment lies in the combination of ingredients used and the cooking technique.

You can serve your onion relish with hot dogs, hamburgers, or barbecue meat, making it a perfect addition to your summer cookouts.

Try pairing it with foie gras or matured cheeses like Pecorino, Gruyère, or Comte for a more refined touch.

Whether enjoyed on its own or as part of a dish, onion relish adds a sweet-savory flavor you'll surely appreciate.

The homemade caramelized onion relish is much better than the one you buy at the grocery store.

This simple recipe requires just a few ingredients and steps.

For more savory jam recipes, you can check: red bell peppers jelly, balsamic fig glaze, concord grape jelly, pate de coing quince paste.

Ingredients

The key ingredients include:

• Sweet onions, such as Vidalia onions or red onions, are preferred for their milder taste and natural sweetness. While you can use regular onions, red onions are especially suitable as they add vibrant color to the final product.
• Sugar helps balance the savory flavor and to aid in caramelization. Brown sugar may also be used, providing a deeper, molasses-like sweetness.
• Balsamic vinegar offers a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that complements the onions and helps create a beautifully rich color.
• Additional seasonings, such as salt, black pepper, and mustard, to taste.
• For a hot relish you can add some chili peppers

Instructions

1. Cut the onions into vertical slices, and fry them at medium heat with melt butter and olive oil
2. Once they become translucent lower the heat. This should take about 5 minutes.
3. Add the salt, sugar and balsamic vinegar
4. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time. The mixture should thicken and soften during this time.
5. Once the onion relish reaches your desired consistency, remove it from the heat and let it cool.

After cooling, transfer the onion relish to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. For longer self-life, check the canning procedure.

It can be served warm or at room temperature.

Canning and Storage

1. When canning onion relish, first prepare your glass jars by washing them in the dishwasher and keeping them hot.

2. Fill the jars with your onion relish, ensuring a headspace of about 2 cm (½ inch) from the top of the jars.

Hint: This space allows the relish to expand during the canning process without breaking the seal.

3. Before sealing your jars, clean the rim of the jars to remove any residue, as this can affect the seal. Use a clean, damp paper towel to wipe the rims and remove any debris.
4. Place the lid on top of the jars and screw on the rings until they are finger-tight.

5. Prepare a water bath by filling a large pot with enough water to cover the jars by at least an inch. Wrap a towel around the jars to avoid the jars breaking while boiling

6. Boil your filled jars for around 10 minutes

Hint: The water bath process helps kill any bacteria in the relish and ensures a long shelf life.

6. Let them cool down undisturbed for about 12-24 hours

Hint: once the jars are fully cooled, check if the lids have been sealed properly by pressing on the center of each lid. If the lid does not move or make a clicking sound, the seal is good, and your onion relish can be stored safely for long periods.

Remember to properly label and date your jars to ensure easy identification later on.

Store your canned onion relish in a cool, dark place

How to serve it

Onion relish is a versatile condiment that can enhance the flavors of various dishes.

You can use it to add a sweet and tangy taste to your hamburgers or turkey burger making them even more mouthwatering.

A dollop of onion relish on your roast beef meat will add a delightful contrast of flavors and elevate its appearance, giving it an attractive pop of color.

Thinking of preparing a meat barbecue or hot dogs for your next cookout?

Don't forget to spread a generous amount of onion relish on top. The combination of flavors will surely impress your guests.

Onion relish pairs great with grilled dishes or can even be mixed with pickling spices for added flavor.

If you're a cheese lover, you're in for a treat. Onion relish pairs exceptionally well with goat cheese or matured cheeses such as Pecorino, Gruyère, and Comté.

Simply spread a bit of the relish on a cheese board, and let its sweet and tangy taste complement these cheeses' earthy, nutty notes.

You can find a wide selection of French cheese in the article: French Cheese.

At Christmas, I like to serve the red onion relish with the foie gras over a slice of cinnamon bread-brioche, a special bread they make here in France specifically for the foie gras.

If you want to make foie gras at home, try the recipe in the article: homemade foie gras

What is balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is very different from regular vinegar as it is more complex to make and requires at least 12 to 25 years to mature.

The balsamic vinegar you buy at the supermarket is probably not real. The low price cannot justify the real procedure of Balsamic vinegar.

Check the labels, and make sure it is Made in Modena and it is a DOC.

You can use supermarket Balsamic vinegar for cooking; that is fine.

But if you want to use it for seasoning, you should try the real one. I buy mine at the Acetaia San Giacomo and you can find it on Amazon.

Equipment

To successfully make your own onion relish, you should have the following equipment on hand:

A cutting board and a sharp knife for dicing the onions

A large pan, or a Dutch oven, for cooking the onions and other ingredients

A silicone spatula or wooden spoon for stirring the mixture

A glass jar or container with a tight-fitting lid for storage

Top tips

• Use a good balsamic vinegar from Modena, not the commercial one
• Simmer the onions at medium heat to make sure they don't burn
• Turn then regularly
• They will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge; however, if canned, they will have a long shelf life
• You can serve them warm or at room temperature, but not straight from the fridge
• If you cook the onion at very low heat, it may take longer than 20 minutes. Taste them to make sure they are adequately cooked and caramelized

More onion recipes

If you like onions, here are some recipes you should definitely try.

The Pissaladiere Nicoise is a specialty from Nice, Cote d'Azur. It is a pizza topped with plenty of caramelized onions and flavored with anchovies.

You can serve it as an appetizer cut in small squares, as an afternoon snack, or for an informal lunch with a salad on the side.

Chelsea Market Heidi Pie is a vegetarian pie filled with caramelized onions and squash mixed with goat cheese. The sweetness of the onions well combines with the creamy cheese.

Sicilian Caponata is a mix of creamy summer vegetables in a sweet and sour sauce. You can serve as a side of a barbecue or as a bruschetta topping.

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