Make Honey Roasted Onions Tonight

Sometimes we just need some comfort food.

I am a huge fan of the humble onion. At any given time, if you looked in my pantry — you’d see a 5-pound bag of onions staring back at you.

Onions are often thought of as an ingredient you only add to other dishes. They are seen as the co-star who doesn’t get the spotlight. But one of my favorite side dishes is when I make the onion the star.

I’ve roasted onions this way for years and I use what I have on hand — onions, honey, butter, and some dried red pepper flakes. Weirdly — some of the best comfort food recipes come from necessity. (I even made them with maple syrup once and it was also fantastic.)

This simple dish can be paired with any kind of meat — from a burger to a fancy roasted salmon. But be prepared for all the lovely comments you’ll get about these delicious, melt-in-your-mouth onions. (And onions are good for you which makes them an even bigger superstar.)

They are an absolute knock-out!

(And if you’re like me and sensitive to onions — wear some onion goggles or your ski goggles while you cut them. You look ridiculous but it gets the job done without tears!)

Honey Roasted Onions

Yields 4–6 servings

Ingredients:

2 lbs of yellow onions (but you can certainly use red ones too)

2 tablespoons water

1/2 cup honey (or try maple syrup)

2 tablespoons butter melted

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon curry powder

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Peel onions and cut in half crosswise. Place onions cut sides down in a roasting pan of whatever size you have in the house; drizzle with water. (They need a little steam to help them soften while they bake.)

3. Cover with foil; bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 min.

4. Combine honey and other ingredients in a bowl. Turn onions over with a flipper; spread honey mixture over onions with a spatula or brush.

5. Bake, uncovered for an additional 30 min or until tender.

Author’s note: If you do have any onions leftover — they are delicious reheated or added to a sandwich or as the base for any dish.

Thanks for reading! I have loads of food essays (delicious recipes too) and thoughtful and quirky simpler living essays waiting for you. (Well over 100 of them!) And this story caught the attention of NBC News in New York!