To caramelize onions quickly, use thinly sliced onions and cook them in a hot pan with oil or butter over medium heat. Adding a small amount of water helps steam and soften the onions faster. Stir frequently to avoid burning and add a bit of brown sugar or balsamic vinegar to speed up caramelization and enhance sweetness. This method can yield nicely caramelized onions in about 10-15 minutes instead of the usual 45+ minutes needed for traditional slow caramelizing.
Fast Caramelizing Steps:
- Thinly slice onions for quicker cooking.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add oil or butter.
- Add onions and a pinch of salt, cooking while stirring often.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of water to steam and soften onions quickly.
- Stir in brown sugar or balsamic glaze for faster browning and sweetness.
- Continue cooking and stirring until onions turn deep golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
This method accelerates the Maillard reaction and caramelization without sacrificing flavor or texture, making it ideal for when time is limited.
