Baked Stuffed Sweet Onions

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Photo: Formula Z/S
Servings:
4

The mildness of sweet onions make them ideal for this delicately hearty side.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet onions

  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt, plus more for cooking water

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 6 ounces (about 9) cremini mushrooms, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces

  • 4 ounces Virginia ham, cut into ¼-inch pieces

  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  • 3 tablespoons Madeira wine

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 cup grated (about 2 ounces) Gruyere cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel onions; slice 1/2 inch from top of each, and discard. Slice just enough from the root end so that onions stand upright. Using a melon baller, hollow out the insides, leaving a 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick shell. Set aside. Finely chop removed parts, and set 1 cup chopped onion aside. Discard remaining onion or reserve for another use.

  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Gently submerge onion shells, and boil 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon; transfer to a wire rack to dry.

  3. Make the stuffing: In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add reserved chopped onions, and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add mushrooms and ham, and season with salt and pepper; cook until mixture is browned, about 5 minutes. Add Madeira; deglaze pan, stirring with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits on bottom. Remove from heat, and transfer to a small mixing bowl; let cool slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Add parsley and Gruyere cheese, and stir to combine.

  4. Fill boiled onion shells with stuffing. Place in a small roasting pan; drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake until tender, about 50 minutes; remove foil after 40 minutes to allow stuffing to brown.

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