Onions Monaco Style Recipes

ONIONS, MONACO STYLE

Steps:

• Put onions in skillet with wine, vinegar, salt, pepper, and lemon slices.
• Simmer until onions are just tender but still crisp in the center.
• Stir in tomato paste and raisins and cook for several minutes.
• Remove the onions to a dish.
• Let the juices cook down with the raisins until the liquid is almost a glaze.
• Pour over the onions and chill.
• Serve as an hors-d'oeuvre or with cold meat.
• Makes 8 to 12 servings.

PISSALADIERE

Steps:

• For the topping, heat the olive oil in a very large saute pan and cook the onions, thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic over low heat for 45 minutes, until the onions are sweet and cooked but not browned. Toss the onions from time to time. After 30 minutes, take out the garlic, chop it roughly, and add it back to the onions.
• Meanwhile, for the dough, combine the water, yeast, honey, and olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. (If the bowl is cold, start with warmer water so it's at least 100 degrees F when you add the yeast.) Add 3 cups of the flour, then the salt, and mix on medium-low speed. While mixing, add 1 more cup of flour, or just enough to make a soft dough. Mix the dough on medium-low speed for about 10 minutes, until smooth, sprinkling it with flour to keep it from sticking to the bowl. When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured board and knead it by hand a dozen times. It should be smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and turn it to cover lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel. Allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts, rolling each 1 into a smooth ball. If you're only making 1 pissaladiere, place 1 ball on a baking sheet and cover it loosely with a damp towel. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes. (If you're not using the other dough, wrap it well and refrigerate or freeze it for the next time.) Roll the dough lightly with a rolling pin, then stretch it to a 10 by 15-inch rectangle and place it on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Spoon the onion topping onto the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border all around. Artfully arrange the anchovies and olives on top, brush the edge of the dough with olive oil, and bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is crisp. Serve hot on a cutting board.

MONEGASQUE-STYLE ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan sauté the onions in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring, until they are browned, add the tomato, the vinegar, the currants, the thyme, the parsley, 1 cup of the water, the garlic paste, the sugar, and salt and pepper to taste, and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer the mixture, adding more water, 1/2 cup at a time, as the liquid evaporates, for 50 minutes, or until the onions are tender. Cook the mixture over high heat, stirring, until the liquid is reduced to a glaze and let it cool. The onion mixture may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and serve it with the toast.

PERFECT PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Cut onions into very thin slices; place in two 1-quart glass jars or one large bowl, packing them tightly together. Add garlic cloves, jalapeno slices, bay leaves, and pepper flakes.
• Combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and peppercorns in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Pour warm liquid over the onions and press down if necessary to submerge. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.