Baked Onions

Baked Onions

Ingredients

• 4 large onions
• 50 g of butter
• 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
• 100 g of grated cheese (preferably Parmesan or Pecorino)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Grated nutmeg, as desired
• Vegetable broth, as needed
• Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Clean the onions by removing the outer part and the roots, leaving them whole. Cut the base so that they can stand upright and remove some of the top part.
3. Boil the onions in salted boiling water for about 15 minutes or until they soften slightly. Drain them and let them cool.
4. Meanwhile, melt half the butter in a pan and add the breadcrumbs. Lightly toast the breadcrumbs until golden and then remove from the heat.
5. Once the onions have cooled, gently empty them with a spoon, being careful not to break them, leaving at least two or three layers of onion to form a “cup”. Chop the removed onion pulp and mix it with the toasted breadcrumbs, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
6. Stuff each onion with the breadcrumb and cheese mixture.
7. Place the stuffed onions in a baking dish and pour some vegetable broth on the bottom of the dish to maintain moisture during cooking.
8. Distribute the remaining butter on top of the baked onions.
9. Bake at 180 °C for about 20-25 minutes or until the top becomes golden and crispy.
10. If desired, before serving, garnish with chopped parsley for a touch of color and freshness.

Baked onions can be an excellent side, but also a main dish if accompanied by a fresh mixed salad. The cheese and bread create a tasty and pleasant crust to the palate, which balances the sweetness of the cooked onions.

Did you know?

Onions, besides being very versatile in the kitchen, stand out for their content of quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that can offer health benefits, including the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease.