Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in good foods caramelized onion dip? ›

Rbst-free Low-fat Greek Yogurt (pasteurized Grade A Skim Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate, Cream, Pectin, Enzymes, Live Active Cultures), Caramelized Onions, Mayonnaise (canola Oil, Egg Yolks, Lemon Juice, White Wine Vinegar, Water, Mustard Powder), Dehydrated Onions, Raw Cane Sugar, Garlic, Sea Salt, Onion Powder, Black ...

It takes time, probably a solid 45 minutes, for the onions' sugars to caramelize. If your heat is too high, the onions will burn. Heat your pan over medium-low, then add your onions. Keep it on that temp for the whole process.

Our Test Kitchen likes to use butter when caramelizing onions, as it offers the richest flavor. If you avoid dairy or don't have butter, you can caramelize onions in other fat such as margarine or olive oil. Add the onion slices. It's okay if they overlap a bit here because they'll shrink as they cook down.

Just make sure not to exceed the ratio of two tablespoons per two onions, as you don't want to end up frying the onions. You only need enough oil and butter to coat the bottom of the pan without fully submerging the onions.

You'll see some people add sugar to the recipe, which is done to speed it up. Doing this is caramelising the sugar, not the onion. The onions get plenty sweet enough on their own if you take your time with it. From a health perspective it's much better not to add extra sugar.

If you leave your dip out for a bit as you're dipping different things into it, the yogurt or other dairy base in the dip can start to separate and cause the dip to get a little watery. Simply stir the dip back up and chill it in the fridge if needed to get it back to your desired consistency.

Cooking instructions

Caramelize the onions: Heat about 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onions and stir to coat. Let cook, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until deeply caramelized, about 1 ½ - 2 hours.

It's our most popular flavor because it combines a creamy, smooth texture with just the right balance of French Onion flavor.

Vinegar. This is our secret ingredient to make the best caramelized onions. Vinegar adds a touch of acidity to balance out the sweetness of the onions. It elevates their flavor wonderfully.

If you cover the pan, you'll trap steam, which will speed up their softening, heat them more quickly, and help release their liquid more quickly. Lift the lid a few times during this stage to give them a stir and make sure nothing is browning yet.

What kind of onion is best for caramelized onions? ›

You can caramelize any kind of onion, but yellow or Spanish onions tend to offer the most balanced-sweet-savory flavor profile and are the most versatile for different dishes. Sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla work too, but keep in mind that their flavor will become even sweeter once caramelized.

Around 30 Minutes: Onions should be light blonde in color and starting to become jammy. More fond is starting to build up, but it should still be fairly easy to scrape it up with the evaporating liquid from the onions. Around 40 Minutes: Onions are golden and starting to smell very caramelized.

Once the water is boiling or close to it, put a lid on the pan so the onions can steam. This essentially massively speeds up the process of wilting the onions, which can be the first 15-20 minutes of the sautéing process.

Cranking up the heat too high.

Caramelizing onions is not an instant gratification process; they take a while to cook. It may be tempting to crank up the heat to speed the process along, but that's the worst thing you can do; it only puts you more at risk for burning your onions.

Onions are naturally sweet; and as caramel comes from the simple cooking of sugar when you slowly cook onions over an extended period of time, the natural sugars in the onions caramelize, making the result intensely and wonderfully flavorful.

I wasn't new to Trader Joe's vegan caramelized-onion dip when I sampled it for this taste test but after trying it again, I was reminded of why it's my go-to for parties. It's absolutely delightful.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine sour cream, ketchup, seasoning salt, red pepper flakes, horseradish, and paprika. Serve immediately or refrigerate before serving.