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sweet and sour red onions

Classic Italian Sweet and Sour Red Onions

Silvana Nava
Sweet and sour red onions, especially those from Tropea in the Calabria region, are a true Italian classic. While Tropea onions are renowned for their flavor, you can easily use any red onions if you don’t have access to them.
This dish is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with bread, bruschetta, cold cuts, cheeses, or as a filling for focaccia, piadina, and even pizza. Whether served as an appetizer, alongside a main course, or as part of an aperitif, these caramelized onions are a hit!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 224 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g red onions - 1.1 pound
  • 50 ml white wine vinegar - 3 ⅓ tablespoons
  • 50 g granulated sugar - ¼ cup
  • salt - a pinch
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil - extra virgin

Instructions
 

  • Remove the outer skin and cut off the tough ends. Once the onions are cleaned, place them on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice them.
  • Place the onion slices in a bowl filled with cold water. Let them soak for a few minutes. This step is optional, but it helps to make the onions more digestible and gives them a milder flavor. If you prefer a stronger onion taste, you can skip this step.
  • Pour about 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into a large frying pan. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it’s hot, but not smoking. Once the oil is ready, add the onion slices to the pan.
  • Sauté the onions over high heat, stirring occasionally to ensure they cook evenly. At this stage, avoid adding salt; you’ll add it later. The high heat will help caramelize the onions slightly, giving them a rich flavor. After about 3-4 minutes, add a pinch of fine salt to the onions and continue cooking.
  • Now it’s time to add the sweet and sour elements to the dish. Sprinkle the sugar over the onions and stir well to coat them evenly. Let the onions cook for about 2 more minutes, allowing the sugar to start dissolving. Then, pour in the vinegar, and stir again to combine everything.
  • Continue to cook the onions, stirring frequently, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the vinegar has evaporated. This process should take about 5 minutes. You’ll know the onions are ready when they’re tender and coated in a glossy, sweet, and tangy sauce.
  • At this point, taste the onions to check the balance of sweet and sour flavors. Depending on the sweetness of your onions and the acidity of your vinegar, you may want to adjust the amount of sugar to suit your personal taste. If you find the onions are too sour, add a little more sugar, and if they’re too sweet, you can add a splash more vinegar. Buon appetito!

Nutrition

Serving: 100gCalories: 224kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 188mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword sweet and sour red onions recipe
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