Creamed Red And White Pearl Onions With Bacon Recipe (2024)

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Perignon

A simple trick: Slice the bacon lengthwise before you dice it, (mostly) separating the fat from the meat. Now dice it in two separate piles, the mostly fat and the mostly meat. Follow the recipe directions above, but put the fatty pieces in first & cook for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, then add the meaty pieces and stir until all is crisp.

I use this all the time, including when making clam chowder. You end up with less fat, all the flavor, and reduce the odds of overcooking the meat.

Lisa

Lyn - is this the recipe? It is from the LA times circa 1997.
Compote of Pearl Onions with Smoked Bacon, Brandy, Cream and Chives
from Carrie Nahabedian of the Gardens Restaurant at the Four Seasons
2 pounds white pearl onions, peeled
6 slices smoked bacon, preferably applewood-smoked
2 ounces brandy
1 pint heavy cream
salt and freshly ground pepper
fresh chives, chopped for garnish

Lisa

Here is the link for all of the instructions to make it:
http://articles.latimes.com/1997/nov/23/magazine/tm-56687/3

Anne

OK Folks, here is the challenge: I have watched videos, read directions, looked at websites AND. almost 3 POUNDS of pearl onions turned into less than 1 pound after the trimming and blanching and squeezing. SO - to the store - frozen white pearl onions! (they don't sell frozen red ones)What I am I doing wrong before I toss this recipe (which is incredibly good) and another one from an old Gourmet magazine? Recipes say that frozen ones do not taste as good...mushy, etc.

Socorro

The pearl onions looked beautiful without the cream sauce. Tasted great with the sauce but: "Stir onions into cream to heat through". Unfortunately, this covered all the beautiful onions...big mistake. The directions should state to 'PLACE' the onions in the sauce. followed by bacon, etc. Then proceed to broiler.

John

The recipe calls for heating the onions through in the cream - on the stovetop - before broiling them. Broiling is just to brown crumbs, not to cook the onions, and whenever broiling, you should keep a close eye on things because the difference between nicely browned and burned to a crisp is sometimes a very short time.

Rachael Heath

This is a great recipe. I wasnt thrilled to be tasked with a pearled onion side dish a couple Christmas’s ago, but after making this that one time I have happily made it the next three years as requested. It’s perfect as is, but I do like to add mushrooms or greens for a little more substance to it. It turns it from a condiment into slightly more of a side.

betsy bobo

Did the five minutes in boiling water actually cooke the onions enough to be tender?

byrne Sleeper

Can this be made ahead? Would I reheat slowly and then add bread crumbs and cheese and bacon at the end before serving?

Heidi

Swapping the bacon for wild mushrooms will not steer your wrong.

Tommyt

Peeling the onions was a task, glad I did this days before thanksgiving. We don't do swine so I topped it with a deep fried shallot/sage/breadcrumb thing that Samin Noserat made in a video. That was time consuming as well but everybody agreed it was a great addition to our feast.

Rachael Heath

This was the PERFECT addition to prime rib Christmas morning. At first I thought it was a boring ask when my in laws wanted us to bring pearled onions, but it was honestly one of the best things at the table. Can’t go wrong with bacon cream and onion! My recommendation is to buy quite a few extra onions. They get smaller when you peel them and I definitely could have used another handful. Also don’t be shy with kosher salt and pepper at the end for a final seasoning! 6 adults polished this off.

Bacon!

I halved the recipe for everything except the bacon and it was perfect. Also skipped the butter and just cooked shallots and garlic in the bacon fat instead of pouring it off. In other words, if following the recipe, double the bacon!

Joanna

Has anyone tried a veg version of this and if so what did you successfully use? Would shiitake work?

Lauren

Can this be made ahead of time?

Cindy S

Don't broil for 10 minutes unattended! It burns quick!!

Anne

OK Folks, here is the challenge: I have watched videos, read directions, looked at websites AND. almost 3 POUNDS of pearl onions turned into less than 1 pound after the trimming and blanching and squeezing. SO - to the store - frozen white pearl onions! (they don't sell frozen red ones)What I am I doing wrong before I toss this recipe (which is incredibly good) and another one from an old Gourmet magazine? Recipes say that frozen ones do not taste as good...mushy, etc.

kathycookstoo

Been there. And,I haven't found any frozen pearl onions in my area.

Rick Wagner

From a novice cook:Wonderful dish. Cooked and peeled onions the day before, so they were cold when mixed with sauce. Followed directions and broiled which, in 5 minutes, left onions cold but bread crumbs burned. Maybe with more experience I could have foreseen this. Was fine with dead crumbs removed and rest baked.

John

The recipe calls for heating the onions through in the cream - on the stovetop - before broiling them. Broiling is just to brown crumbs, not to cook the onions, and whenever broiling, you should keep a close eye on things because the difference between nicely browned and burned to a crisp is sometimes a very short time.

Javajo

Perhaps my onions were bigger than most (although they were labeled "pearl"), but blanching and 10 minutes under the broiler wasn't enough cooking time. If I make this again, I will boil the onions until just about done.

Socorro

The pearl onions looked beautiful without the cream sauce. Tasted great with the sauce but: "Stir onions into cream to heat through". Unfortunately, this covered all the beautiful onions...big mistake. The directions should state to 'PLACE' the onions in the sauce. followed by bacon, etc. Then proceed to broiler.

Julie

Delicious, but I found my sauce didn't thicken and reduce as much as I would have liked, even though I had it reducing for quite a while but once I added breadcrumbs it was fine. Didn't find the red onion, so just used white, but want to try it again with the red. I also added a drop of sherry.

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Creamed Red And White Pearl Onions With Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you peel white pearl onions before cooking? ›

Like other onions, pearl onions need to be peeled before use. Unlike their larger onion counterparts, pearl onions are trickier to peel thanks to their tiny size. The fastest way to peel pearl onions is to use a blanching method.

What is the difference between red and white pearl onions? ›

Red pearl onions have reddish-purple skin that's similar in color to large red onions. Usually they're milder in flavor than white pearl onions. Pearl onions always have to be peeled before use, which can be tricky.

Do pearl onions need to be refrigerated? ›

Always store pearl onions in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Basem*nts, pantries, and cellars are excellent options. If storing in a refrigerator, place them in the vegetable drawer inside a paper bag, not a plastic one.

What is the healthiest onion to eat? ›

Red onions

All types of onions are good for you, but this dark reddish-purple variety, sometimes called purple onion, has especially high levels of quercetin and other helpful plant compounds known as flavonoids. Flavonoids give many fruits, vegetables, and flowers their colors.

Which onion is healthiest red or white? ›

White and yellow onions are practically identical in terms of nutrition, but red onions contain anthocyanin that give them their rich color. Anthocyanins are a type of antioxidant that have been linked to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, like heart disease and cancer.

What are red pearl onions good for? ›

Pearl onions contain chemical compounds that have health benefits including helping cardiovascular health and stabilize blood sugar levels, and acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

How do you prepare pearl onions for cooking? ›

A quick blanche in a hot pot of boiling water will help to loosen the outer layers. From there rinse them briefly under cold water and they should be easy to peel with your fingers.

Why do you soak onions before cooking? ›

Onions - soaking in cold water to soften the flavor

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Squeeze out excess water before using.

Why does baking soda make onions cook faster? ›

Baking soda makes the onions more alkaline, which speeds up the browning reactions necessary for properly caramelized onions. But it also weakens the pectin that holds the onion's cells together, turning what should be soft but distinct pieces of browned onion into a nauseating stew of pea-green mush.

Can you eat white pearl onions raw? ›

White Pearl onions are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as creaming, roasting, pickling, and glazing.

Do onions last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

For this reason, he says it's best to store onions in a cool, dry place like a cellar, pantry, or even a garage. While they can be stored whole in the fridge, Yee notes that this causes the onion to convert starch to sugar, and can result in soft or soggy onions.

Are pearl onions good for you? ›

Rich in vitamins C and B6, as well as essential minerals like potassium and manganese, pearl onions contribute to overall health and well-being.

Do you have to peel a white onion? ›

In most cases, if you're using cut onion, you'll need to peel the onion, as you will not be using the skin. If you're making stock, there's no need to peel the onion before adding it to the pot. You'll be discarding the whole onion after cooking, anyway, and the skin adds more flavor.

Do you have to peel pearl onions for stew? ›

You have to peel them, which requires blanching first, then cutting off the ends so you can slip off the peels.

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