Description
Ina Garten’s caramelized onion dip delivers rich, complex flavors from slowly mellowed onions blended with creamy ingredients. Guests will savor each luxurious spoonful of this sophisticated appetizer that elevates classic party fare with elegant French-inspired cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 large yellow onions
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
Fats and Oils:
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) vegetable oil
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Carefully slice onions lengthwise into thin half-rounds approximately 1/8 inch (0.3 centimeters) thick, yielding approximately of prepared onions.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium temperature, adding olive oil and butter simultaneously. Introduce sliced onions, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and ground black pepper into the pan.
- Sauté the onion mixture for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, continuing to cook the onions for an additional 20 minutes. Stir periodically, allowing the onions to caramelize and develop a rich, golden-brown color.
- Remove the caramelized onions from heat and allow them to cool completely to room temperature.
- Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, blend melted mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese until the mixture becomes smooth and fully incorporated.
- Gently fold the cooled caramelized onions into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution throughout the dip.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or cayenne as needed to enhance the flavor profile.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and let it rest at room temperature for optimal taste and texture before serving.
Notes
- Caramelizing transforms ordinary onions into sweet, golden treasures with intense flavor depth.
- Patience matters when slowly cooking onions over low heat, allowing natural sugars to develop rich brown color.
- Butter and olive oil combination creates perfect caramelization, helping onions brown evenly without burning.
- Selecting sweet Vidalia or yellow onions guarantees the most delectable caramelized results.
- Wooden spoon technique helps scrape delicious browned bits from pan bottom, ensuring maximum flavor extraction.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 275 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg