Holiday Tradition

Braised Creamed Onions

Ingredients

  • 2 lb frozen pearl onions, thawed and patted dry
  • 4 tbsp butter, plus more for the dish and for dotting
  • A few sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp beef demi-glace (or 1 cup beef stock)
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • A splash of vinegar

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F and butter a casserole dish.
  • Melt the butter in a skillet and add the pearl onions, thyme, and a little salt. Brown over medium heat until the onions take on just a touch of color, then add black pepper.
  • Sprinkle in the flour and stir to coat; this helps thicken the sauce.
  • Stir in the beef demi-glace (or beef stock) and the heavy cream, and mix until combined.
  • Add a splash of vinegar to brighten the savory sauce.
  • Pour the onions and sauce into the buttered casserole dish, dot the top with a little more butter and thyme.
  • Bake for about 30 minutes. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Corre Larkin's (@cocolarkincooks) Braised Creamed Onions, saved from her Instagram reel. She uses frozen pearl onions to keep the prep minimal, and calls this a holiday-table staple. The caption was a teaser for her cookbook (Season to Taste) with no written recipe, so the steps here are reconstructed from her narration in the video; quantities and the oven temperature are estimated for a classic braised creamed onions. Mild and savory, kid-friendly.