Baked Pearl Onions

Baked pearl onions are a sweet and flavorful side dish, very simple to prepare. Here’s the recipe for delicious baked pearl onions with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

• 500 g of pearl onions
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of honey (or brown sugar if you prefer)
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• A few sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. Clean the pearl onions by removing the outer layer of the skin and keeping the bulb intact. If you have difficulty peeling them, you can immerse them in boiling water for a few minutes to facilitate the process.
3. Arrange the pearl onions in a single layer on a baking tray, preferably not too large so they stay close to each other.
4. In a small bowl, mix the extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar and honey (or brown sugar) until you get an emulsion.
5. Pour this mixture over the pearl onions, trying to cover them evenly.
6. Sprinkle the pearl onions with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Add fresh thyme by distributing it evenly over the pearl onions.
8. Bake the pearl onions for about 25-30 minutes or until they are caramelized and tender, stirring a couple of times during cooking to ensure they caramelize evenly.

Curiosity

Baked pearl onions are a versatile dish that can accompany both meat and fish. They are traditionally linked to Tuscan cuisine and pair well with red meat dishes like roast. The use of balsamic vinegar is a classic of Emilian cuisine, adding a pleasant sweet and sour note to the dish.