The secret to perfect fried onions: Skip the butter, add sugar

Fried onions are among the most versatile additions that pair excellently with many dishes. Although it may seem like a simple task to prepare them, a few tricks can elevate the taste of fried onions to an entirely new level. Did you know that one unexpected ingredient can make your fried onions taste deeper and give them a beautiful, caramelized colour? In this article, we reveal how to achieve this.

While tasty, butter is not the best choice for frying onions. Its low smoke point means it burns easily, creating harmful compounds. Additionally, the saturated fatty acids in butter are not the best for our health.

Surprising but true—the key to achieving perfectly golden and sweet onions is... sugar! Just a pinch is enough to transform ordinary fried onions into a real treat for the palate. Sugar caramelizes during frying, giving the onions a deep, sweet flavour and a beautiful, golden colour.

How to fry onions with sugar?

1. Choose the right oil: Canola oil or olive oil works best.
2. Chop the onion: Slice the onion into julienne or dice it.
3. Fry on low heat: Fry the onion over medium heat until it becomes soft and slightly golden.
4. Add sugar: Add a pinch of sugar when the onion starts to brown.
5. Stir gently: Stir until the sugar dissolves and caramelizes.

Fried onions with added sugar are versatile and excellently paired with many dishes. You can add them to:

• Sandwiches: Make a delicious sandwich using crispy bread, garlic butter, fried onions, and your favourite cold cuts.
• Dumplings: Fried onions are perfect for dumplings filled with cheese and potatoes, meat, or sauerkraut and mushrooms.
• Soups: Add them to creamy soups like cream of onion or cream of tomato.
• Meats: Fried onions pair excellently with meat, both poultry and pork.
• Vegetables: You can add them to stewed vegetables like carrots, parsley, or celery.