Slow cooking onions bring out their natural sweetness. The procedure is always the same, whether on top of the stove or in a slow cooker – cook the onions very slowly. Recipes tend to vary with the ingredients though, from using butter and/or oil, using sherry, red wine or balsamic vinegar, and adding some herbs such as thyme. One recipe added beef broth or chicken broth depending on the recipe you are serving them with. Sweet onions are preferred and if you do not have them add 1-2 tbsp. brown sugar to help with the caramelization process. They should have a deep mahogany color.
I make these onions on top of the stove when I need only a small amount. I prefer the slow cooker for making 2-3 lbs. of caramelized onions. I have adapted this recipe from “Slow Cooker Cooking”.
Caramelized Onions in the Slow Cooker
- 3 lbs. sweet onions, after they have been peeled
- 4-8 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1-2 tbsp. brown sugar (if not using sweet)
Place the above ingredients in a slow cooker, cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 10-12 hours, or until the onions are a deep brown and are very soft.
Recipe by cooking with aunt juju
http://cookingwithauntjuju.com/2011/11/17/carmelized-onions/