Best Spiced Onions Recipes

SPICED MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH ONIONS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté until brown and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer chicken to plate. Add onions and garlic to same skillet. Sauté until onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Mix in flour, ginger, cinnamon and cumin; stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in broth. Add prunes, lemon juice and honey. Boil until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon, whisking occasionally, about 8 minutes. Return chicken to skillet. Simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer chicken and sauce to platter. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

INDIAN SPICED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir onion and ketchup until onion is thinly and evenly coated. Mix in the lemon juice. Season with sugar, cilantro, fenugreek and chili powder, and mix thoroughly. Cover, and chill for 24 hours. This allows the lemon juice to neutralize the onion flavor slightly.

SPICED LAMB CHOPS ON SAUTEED PEPPERS AND ONIONS WITH GARLIC AND MINT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Cover the chops with waxed paper or plastic and whack each chop with the heel of your palm to flatten it out. Season chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Combine cumin, coriander and paprika and sprinkle the mixture evenly over chops. Pat the spices in place and wash up. Let chops stand 15 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add peppers and onions. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook together 5 minutes, then add grape tomatoes and continue to cook until skins begin to burst on tomatoes. Add half the flat-leaf parsley to the skillet and toss. Transfer vegetables to a platter and cover with loose foil to hold heat.
• Place a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in a small pot for couscous, just eyeball the amount. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. Saute garlic 1 minute then add the pine nuts to toast a little. Add chicken stock to the pot and bring it up to a boil. Add couscous, remove from heat, and cover the pot. Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Return skillet to stove and add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, a turn of the pan. Add lamb chops to skillet and sear 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium rare, cook 4 minutes on each side for medium well chops. Place chops on top of the peppers and onions.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in mint and the remaining parsley. Pass couscous at the table. It makes a nice bed for the veggies and lamb to catch all the juices.

STUFFED ONIONS WITH SPICED LAMB AND POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Boil the onions:
• Fill a medium pot with enough water to cover the onions and bring to a boil. Add whole onions, return to a boil, and cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove onions to a colander, drain, and let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut a 1/2-inch wedge from the outside to the core of each onion, then carefully peel 5 outer layers from each onion and reserve; chop the onion wedges and core, and reserve separately.
• Make the stuffing:
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the lamb, anchovies, salt, and pepper and cook, breaking meat up with a wooden spoon, until lamb is no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spices and 1 cup broth; cook, stirring, until evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer lamb mixture to a rimmed baking sheet and cool slightly; cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator, transfer to a bowl, and add parsley, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses.
• Stuff and bake the onions:
• Preheat the oven to 250°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining broth and pomegranate molasses with the tomato paste. Wrap one onion layer around about 2 to 3 tablespoons filling and arrange seam-side down in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Repeat with remaining onion layers and filling.
• Pour liquid over stuffed onions, cover with foil, and roast until tender and some of the liquid is absorbed, 2 hours (you can roast for up to 3 additional hours for softer, more savory onions). Remove from oven and uncover. Preheat broiler and broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. To serve, drizzle with oil, and garnish with pomegranate seeds, parsley, and cilantro.

SLOW-ROAST SPICED LAMB SHOULDER WITH SUMAC ONIONS

Steps:

• Season lamb very generously with salt and pepper; place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet.
• Toast peppercorns and coriander seeds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until fragrant, about 3 minutes; let cool. Finely grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle; transfer to a small bowl. Mix in paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, then rub all over lamb. Chill uncovered at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• Let lamb sit out on counter at room temperature 1 hour before roasting.
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 275°F. Transfer lamb to a roasting pan and pour in 3 cups water. Cover tightly with foil and cook, turning lamb over and rotating pan halfway through, until meat is almost falling off the bone, 3-3 1/2 hours. Remove lamb from oven and turn up heat to broil (or to highest heat if you have a drawer-style broiler). Discard foil, transfer lamb to a cutting board, and pour off liquid in pan. Return lamb to pan; roast, uncovered, until nicely browned, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss onion, lemon juice, and sumac in a small bowl with your hands, squeezing onion a bit to soften.
• Just before serving, toss mint, parsley, and a pinch of salt into onion mixture. Serve lamb topped with onion salad.

SPICED LAMB SKEWERS WITH LEMONY ONIONS

Steps:

• Season lamb with salt and pepper. Add cumin and turmeric and toss to coat. (This can be done up to 24 hours ahead, if you like.)
• If you're using a charcoal grill, build the fire so it's screaming hot. This lamb is to be cooked hot and fast so it can stay nicely medium-rare, so the hotter the better. If you're using a gas grill, set it on high. Bring a clean platter, cutting board or baking dish out to the grill for the skewers to rest in after cooking.
• Combine onion, sumac (if using) and 3 tablespoons lemon juice; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Combine yogurt and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Skewer the lamb onto wooden or metal skewers, 2 to 4 pieces per skewer.
• Once the grill is hot, cook the skewers on all sides until deeply browned and lightly charred all over, 2 to 3 minutes per side (less time for smaller pieces), moving the skewers around as needed to prevent excessive flare-ups. (If you've trimmed most of the fat away from the lamb, the flare-ups shouldn't be too bad.)
• Transfer the skewers to the platter, cutting board or baking dish to rest for a few minutes and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with the dressed onions, lemony yogurt, cilantro, olives, lavash and any pickled vegetables or peppers you like.

SPICED BASMATI RICE WITH LENTILS AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in 10-inch-diameter oven-proof nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and stir 1 minute. Cover and cook until onions are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Uncover and sauté until onions are deep golden, about 5 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Spread onions in even layer in same skillet; set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook lentils in pot of boiling water until almost tender but still firm to bite, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Combine 2 1/2 cups water, cardamom, allspice, bay leaf and salt in heavy medium saucepan; bring to boil. Add rice and lentils; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Discard cardamom, allspice and bay leaf.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spoon rice mixture atop onions in skillet, pressing with back of spoon to compact rice; smooth top. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cool. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Cover skillet tightly with double layer of foil. Bake rice mixture until heated through, about 35 minutes. Remove foil; let stand 5 minutes. Place plate over skillet; invert skillet, releasing rice and onions onto plate and scraping any onions remaining in skillet onto rice. Spoon rice and onions onto plates and serve.

BERBERE-SPICED ROASTED CARROTS, CHICKPEAS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• For the carrots and onions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack. To cut the carrots, hold a carrot at a 45-degree angle on your cutting board and slice a 1-inch chunk off, rotate the carrot a quarter turn and slice off another chunk. Continue to the end of the carrot and cut all of the carrots this way. (This is a "roll" or "oblique cut," a good technique for cutting long vegetables to give lots of surface area for browning.) Toss the carrots in a large bowl with the onion, chickpeas, olive oil, berbere and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread on the preheated baking sheet and roast until the vegetables are tender and nicely caramelized, about 25 minutes.
• For the awaze sauce: While the carrots and onions roast, place the berbere in a small bowl. Stir in the red wine, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. The sauce should be thick but still able to drizzle. (This makes more awaze than you'll need for the recipe, but it keeps for up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container).
• Mound the carrots and onions on a serving platter and drizzle with a few tablespoons of awaze sauce. Serve warm.
• Combine all the spices in a small skillet. Toast over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool completely. This spice blend will keep, tightly sealed, in your pantry for several months. For longer storage, keep in the freezer. Makes about 1/2 cup.

BRAISED DUCK WITH SPICED LENTILS AND LIME ONIONS

Steps:

• Cut the duck in quarters and remove the drumstick tips. Season with 1 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper, rub all over with the garlic and place a piece of cinnamon stick on each quarter. Let sit at room temperature 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Transfer the duck to an ovenproof frying pan along with the chicken or other fat. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover with foil and transfer to the oven. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, lift the duck from the fat and remove and discard the skin. Cover with a wet towel until serving time. To reserve, store the duck in the cooking fat and refrigerate up to a week.
• To reheat the duck, remove from the fat if necessary, and place on a rack in a tightly covered pan. Warm in a 325 degree oven for about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to make the lime onions, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Saute the onions, stirring frequently, until just wilted (but not browned). Toss with the lime juice and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and l/2 teaspoon pepper. Keep warm. The onions can be made a day in advance and refrigerated. Reheat before serving.
• To serve, spread a bed of lentils on each serving plate. Top with a piece of duck and smother with the warm onions. Serve immediately.

SHISH HOLD-THE-KABOB: SPICED LAMB CHOPS ON SAUTEED PEPPERS AND ONIONS WITH GARLIC AND MINT COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Cover the chops with wax paper or plastic and whack each chop with the heel of your palm to flatten it out. Season chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Combine cumin, coriander and paprika and sprinkle the mixture evenly over chops. Pat the spices in place and wash up. Let chops stand 15 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add peppers and onions. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook together 5 minutes, then add grape tomatoes and continue to cook until skins begin to burst on tomatoes. Add half the flat leaf parsley to the skillet and toss. Transfer vegetables to a platter and cover with loose foil to hold heat.
• Place a tablespoon of oil in a small saucepan for couscous, just eyeball the amount. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. Sautee garlic 1 minute then add chicken stock and bring it up to a boil. Add couscous and cover the pot. Let stand for 5 minutes. Over medium-low heat toast the pinenuts in a small pan until they begin to give off their aroma, stirring them frequently to prevent them from burning.
• Return skillet to stove and add another tablespoon EVOO, a turn of the pan. Add lamb chops to skillet and sear 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium rare, cook 4 minutes on each side for medium-well chops. Place chops on top of the peppers and onions.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in the raisins, mint, remaining parsley and the pine nuts. Pass couscous at table. It makes a nice bed for the veggies and lamb to catch all the juices.

OVEN-ROASTED QUINOA WITH SPICED APPLES, CARROTS AND RED ONIONS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 425°. In a small bowl, stir together cardamom, coriander, pepper and ¾ teaspoon salt. In a 9--by-13-inch baking dish, add the carrots, apple, red onion and olive oil. Add the spice mixture and stir to combine. 2. In an 8- or 9-inch baking dish, add the rinsed quinoa and spread into an even layer. Place the quinoa and vegetables in the oven. Toast the quinoa until fragrant and golden, about 8 minutes, then pour 2 cups water over the quinoa and loosely cover the pan with a sheet of aluminum foil. Cook the quinoa until it uncoils and looks fluffy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the quinoa from the oven, fluff with a fork, re-cover with foil and set aside. 3. Meanwhile, continue to roast the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to blacken around the edges and the carrots are tender, about 30 minutes total. 4. Transfer the quinoa to a serving dish. Stir in the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, the lemon zest and lemon juice, then the parsley. Serve alongside the roasted vegetables.

CREAMED PEARL ONIONS AND FENNEL WITH CRISPY SPICED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 400ºF. Brush a 2-qt. gratin or baking dish, preferably oval or rectangular, with 1/2 Tbsp. butter.
• Cut fennel bulb and stems into 1/4" pieces. Finely chop 2 Tbsp. fennel fronds; set aside.
• Combine onions, fennel bulb and stems, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 3/4 cup water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer 5 minutes. Drain onion mixture, pat dry, and transfer to prepared dish.
• Bring cream and 1/2 tsp. salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, then pour over onion mixture. Bake 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine orange zest, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, black pepper, red pepper flakes, reserved fennel fronds, 1/2 tsp. salt, and remaining 3 1/2 Tbsp. melted butter in a medium bowl.
• Remove onion mixture from oven and top with breadcrumb mixture. Return to oven and continue baking until breadcrumbs are deep golden brown and cream is bubbling around the edges, 25-30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

ONE-PAN GLAZED RACK OF LAMB WITH SPICED RED ONIONS & POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the potatoes and onions into a large roasting tin. Scatter over half the ras el hanout, drizzle with 2 tbsp of the oil and toss together until completely coated. Put in the oven for 40 mins to roast, turning everything over once or twice so it cooks evenly.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan and, one at a time, fry the fat side of the lamb well until dark brown, then remove from the pan. Remove the roasted veg from the oven. Season the lamb fat with the remaining ras el hanout, then drizzle or brush over the molasses. Put the lamb, fat-side up, among the potatoes and return to the oven. Cook for 20 mins for rare, 25 mins for pink and 30 mins for well done. Remove and leave to rest for 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, mix the thyme with the remaining oil and set aside. To serve, either bring the roasting tin to the table, carve the racks into chops and serve the potatoes straight from the pan, or remove the racks, cut them into thick three-boned chops, then spoon some of the potatoes onto each plate and rest a thick chop against them. Drizzle everything with the lemon thyme oil to serve.

BAKED SKILLET PASTA WITH CHEDDAR AND SPICED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat. Add onions and bay leaf, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and browned in spots, 12 to 20 minutes. (Reduce heat if the pan starts to scorch.) Lower heat to medium, and stir in coriander, ground cumin, cayenne and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 1 more minute. Transfer half the onions to a bowl and reserve (leave the bay leaf in the skillet).
• Add garlic, cumin seeds, pepper and allspice to the skillet, and stir. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in the juice from the canned tomatoes. Use your hands or kitchen scissors to squish or cut the tomatoes into pieces and add to pan. Fill the empty tomato can with water, and pour into the skillet. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil and remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and bring mixture to a simmer. Simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes. Taste, and add more salt and cayenne if you like. Remove bay leaf.
• As mixture cooks, heat oven to 400 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just about 2 minutes shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, and drain pasta.
• Stir pasta, reserved pasta water, and parsley into skillet with tomato sauce. Top with reserved browned onions, Cheddar and Parmesan. Transfer to oven and bake until golden and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. If you like, you can run the pan under the broil to brown the top, or leave it as is. Let cool slightly, top with more parsley, if desired, and serve with hot sauce, if you like.

SPICED CHICKEN COUSCOUS WITH CINNAMON ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and stir to coat. Season with salt. Sauté 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are very soft, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in sugar and cinnamon; sauté until onions are brown, about 5 minutes. (Cinnamon onions can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Coarsely puree quartered onion, lemon juice, cumin, ginger, and paprika in blender. Pour into heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in another large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken with marinade; cook until chicken is brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add tomatoes with juices and broth to skillet; boil until sauce thickens, about 6 minutes. Return chicken to skillet; spoon sauce over. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil. Boil sauce until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Rewarm cinnamon onions. Mound couscous on 4 plates. Top with chicken, sauce, and onions and serve.

SPICED CHICKEN WITH RICE & CRISP RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Brush the chicken with 1 tsp oil, then sprinkle with curry powder. Toss the onion in the remaining oil. Put the chicken and onions in one layer in a roasting tin. Bake for 25 mins until the meat is cooked and the onions are crisp, stirring the onions halfway through the cooking time.
• Rinse the rice, then put in a pan with the cinnamon, saffron, salt to taste and 300ml water. Bring to the boil, stir once, add the raisins, cover. Gently cook for 10-12 mins until the rice is tender, adding the peas halfway through. Spoon the rice onto two plates, top with the chicken and scatter over the onions. Stir the herbs into the yogurt and season, if you like, before serving on the side.

SPICED ROOT SOUP WITH CRISP SPICED ONIONS

Steps:

• Peel and halve the onions through the root, then slice thinly lengthways. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large pan, add half the onions and fry until just starting to colour. Add the mustard and cumin seeds and fry until nicely browned.
• Add vegetables and curry paste and stir until well coated. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, partly cover and simmer for 30 mins, until the vegetables are tender. Meanwhile, heat the remaining tbsp of oil in a small pan, add the onions and fry quickly until crisp and browned. Tip onto kitchen paper.
• Purée the soup in batches, then return to the pan and stir in most of the yogurt. Taste and add salt, if necessary. Reheat gently, then ladle into bowls and top each with a spoonful of yogurt, some fried onions and a scattering of roughly chopped coriander or parsley.

GRILLED SPICED APPLES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium direct heat.
• In a snall bowl, combine melted butter, oil, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cloves. Mix and set aside.
• Place apple and onion slices on the hot grill. Brush tops with half of butter/oil mixture. Cover and grill for 5 minutes.
• Turn apple and onion slices CAREFULLY with a meatal spatula so that onion rings do not seperate. Brush with remaining butter/oil mixture. Cover and grill for 5-7 more minutes.
• Remove from grill CAREFULLY so that onion rings do not seperate. Layer apple and onion slices on a serving platter.

SPICED GREEN BEANS WITH TOMATO & ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large skillet (approximately 12 inch) with lid, ,heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onion and cook until soft and lightly golden, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the green beans, salt and black pepper, and stir well.
• Reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the onions are caramelized and the beans start to soften and brown lightly, about 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, garlic, sugar, allspice and cinnamon.
• Stir well, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender throughout, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPICED POTATOES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Set a steamer basket in a pot with 2 inches simmering water. Add potatoes, cover, and steam until tender when pierced with a knife, 12 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Add cumin, red-pepper flakes, and potatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until potatoes are lightly golden, 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and top with cilantro.