Red Chard And Caramelized Onions Recipes

RED CHARD AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a cast iron skillet, cook onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until they begin to brown. Stir in brown sugar, and continue cooking for a few minutes.
• When onions are brown and tender, stir in chard and olives. Cook until chard is slightly wilted. Stir in capers and salt, and continue cooking until chard is completely wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with black pepper and squeeze lemon over the top.

CARAMELIZED RED BELL PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• In a hot saucepan over a medium heat, combine red peppers, onion, oil and butter; saute for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers soften.
• If desired, stir red wine into the vegetables and cook until the wine evaporates; approximately 30 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and basil.

SAUTEED SWISS CHARD WITH RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Cut out the tough, triangular inner core of each leaf of swiss chard and cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices.
• Rinse the leaves and stems separately and reserve.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and cook until it turns golden brown; don't let the garlic get too brown or it will be bitter.
• Remove the garlic and set aside.
• Reserve the oil in the skillet.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet and the onions.
• Saute over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chopped stems from the swiss chard and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the stems are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the swiss chard leaves, season with salt and pepper and cover.
• Cook 10 minutes, stirring often; you may need to add 1/2 cup chicken stock or water to keep the leaves moist.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the crispy garlic.

R-RATED ONIONS

Steps:

• Peel your onions and cut them in half through their stem ends-longways, if you will. Slice them thinly with the grain, following the line from root to stem rather than cutting the onion across its belly. This is actually important because slicing it the other way makes the path to silky onions a longer one.
• Once your onions are sliced, heat your skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil, then the onions and the salt. Let the onions sizzle for a couple minutes. Stir with a wooden spoon or a heatproof spatula and watch as they wilt for about 3 more minutes. At this point, reduce the heat to medium low. Put a lid on and step away for a few minutes. Give the onions a stir every now and then. You don't have to stand over it like risotto, but don't go for a walk around the block either. Caramelized bits will accumulate at the bottom and sides of the pan, and that's good. Just scrape them up and stir them in. A little color building as you go is okay, but don't rush to brown them. The point is to cook the onions gently, coaxing them through stages of raw, wilted, sweaty, soft, light brown, and finally deeply caramelized
• About 45 minutes in, remove the lid for the last time. They should be a light caramel color. Now, with the lid off, you will need to watch more closely and stir more frequently. At some point you may find that despite your best efforts some of the caramelized bits, verging on burnt, cling to the pan and threaten over all onion ruin. Do not fret! Just add a ½ cup or so of water and use its energy to help scrape up the stubborn but tasty film. Let the water cook out of course. When you're smiling over a soft, creamy, fragrant pile of mahogany onions, you're done.
• Note: R-Rated Onions will keep in the fridge for a week and in the freezer for 3 months.

PIZZA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, RICOTTA AND CHARD

Steps:

• Thirty minutes before baking the pizza, preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender and just beginning to color, about 10 minutes. Add the thyme, garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Turn the heat to low, cover and cook another 10 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown and very sweet and soft. Remove from the heat.
• While the onions are cooking, stem and wash the chard leaves, and bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Fill a medium bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the chard. Blanch for one to two minutes, just until the leaves are tender, and transfer to the ice water. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Alternatively, steam the chard for two to three minutes until wilted, and rinse with cold water. Chop the chard medium-fine.
• Roll out the dough, oil a 14-inch pizza pan and dust with cornmeal or semolina. Place the dough on the pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg yolk, Parmesan and chard. Spread over the pizza dough in an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border around the rim. Spread the onions over the ricotta mixture.
• Place in the hot oven, and bake 10 to 15 minutes until the crust and bits of the onion are nicely browned. Remove from the heat, and serve hot or warm.

PASTA WITH CARAMELIZED ONION, SWISS CHARD AND GARLICKY BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add 3 anchovies to the skillet; cook until melted, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the bread crumbs and toast until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Wipe the skillet clean and return it to a medium-high heat. Add the oil, the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes. Chop the remaining 2 anchovies and add them to the skillet. Cook until melted. Add the Swiss chard, a handful at a time, and cook until wilted, about 4 minutes. Cover and keep warm.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain well. Toss with the chard mixture and bread crumbs, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.