Cipollini in Agrodolce

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Photo: Krause, Johansen
Servings:
12

These sweet-and-sour onions are often part of Italian antipasti, served warm or at room temperature.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds cipollini or pearl onions, root ends trimmed

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1 sprig fresh thyme

  • cup red-wine vinegar

  • ½ cup dry red wine

  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar

  • 2 ½ teaspoons coarse salt

  • Freshly ground pepper

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add onions; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer onions until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain; let cool. Peel onions.

  2. Heat oil with bay leaf in a large saute pan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add thyme. Add half of onions; cook, stirring, until deep golden brown in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Repeat with remaining onions. Add first batch to pan.

  3. Stir together vinegar, wine, sugar, and salt; add to pan. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is syrupy and glazes onions, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with pepper.

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