Sunday, October 3, 2010

Baked Caramelized Onion Spread


Need a quick and easy appetizer for your next football gathering? Here is one that is so easy, delicious and made with ingredients you may already have in your home. All you need are sweet onions, mayonnaise, shredded cheese and a baguette or crackers for serving.

Every time I make this recipe I am reminded of a fall weekend gathering at a dear friend's home in Ohio shortly after they moved there from Wisconsin.  They had been a big part of our social life and were in our gourmet group.  They invited six of us (3 couples) to Chagrin Falls, Ohio to spend the weekend and see their new home.  We all cooked together in their kitchen and shared two wonderful dinners in their home that weekend...one of which started with this appetizer which I helped prepare. My friend shared the recipe with me before we returned home.


I don't know the original recipe source but there are many similar recipes on the internet - some much more elaborate. I love the simplicity of my friend's original recipe which really lets the flavor of the onions shine through. I only add a dash of cayenne for a little 'kick'. 


The most time-consuming part of the recipe is the caramelizing of the onions which might take 20-30 minutes. You want them to be soft and golden. The caramelized onions are then mixed with mayo, shredded Swiss, Gruyère or Jarlsberg cheese, a touch of cayenne for a little 'zip' if you like, then the mixture is spread into an oven-proof baking dish and baked for 30 minutes.


So simple - so good!

Slather on a fresh baguette slice and grab a little parsley too! It's a perfect fall appetizer with a wonderful earthy flavor~


Baked Caramelized Onion Spread
Printable Recipe

After making this many times, I've increased the onions and cut back a little on the cheese and especially the mayonnaise with no damage to the great flavor of this recipe. (The original recipe calls for equal amounts of sliced onion, cheese and mayonnaise)

2 cups sliced Vidalia, Walla Walla, or other sweet onion
1-1/2 cups Swiss, Gruyère or Jarlsberg cheese, shredded (I used Jarlsberg this time)
3/4 cup mayonnaise (I always use Hellman's Light)
Some cayenne for ‘kick’, about 1/2 teaspoon

Sauté the sliced onions in a heavy frying pan over medium heat with a little olive oil until soft, translucent and golden (don’t let them burn!).

Mix the caramelized onions with the shredded cheese, cayenne and mayo and pour into a shallow, oven-proof dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Garnish with parsley and serve with fresh baguette slices or an assortment of crackers.

Enjoy!

77 comments:

  1. Oh that looks delicious! We love football and I'm always looking for a new appetizer! Nice job!

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  2. I have made your other spread that was not caramelized and we loved it..I may make this and put it in a little red cocotte I bought my daughters as her hostess gift for Thanksgivng..Thanks Susan!

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  3. I'm always looking for something interesting and savory to serve to the vegetarian side of the family. This looks perfect. Thanks--can't wait to try it!

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  4. I have made this many times years ago. I had forgotten how delish it was. Great idea for a quick and easy football app.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  5. I love, love, love caramelized onions. What a great and different way to use them! I will making this soon! :D

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  6. This sounds delicious! Can't wait to give this a try!

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  7. I first ate caramelized onions when I was in the States. From then on I fell in love with them. I am sure this spread would make me very happy.

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  8. This is great! I will definitely be trying this out, this will be great for my kids' after school snack. I know that they will love this! Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Definitely making this when the girls come over for book club to my house! Sounds like it was a fun weekend at your friends!

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  10. Susan...this looks heavenly!! I love carmelized onion anything and everything and know this will be a hit!!

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  11. Much to my chagrin, I could eat a lot of this! I have always used the whole mayo, does the light separate in this? I keep both in my frig, the light to spread, the full for recipes. But I would rather use the light if it doesn't separate!

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  12. This looks so delicious! I love recipes that we associate with good times in our lives.

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  13. Looks absolutely wonderful!

    Thsnks so much for coming by the "new" Back Porch.

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  14. Yum! wished I some now - have not had lunch yet.

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  15. Cooked onions have become a new favorite, and this sure looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. Susan, I can see where this would be wonderful! I am especially fond of carmelized onions. Thanks for sharing. Susan

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  17. Hmmmm, yum! The pictures on my blog were from last year. The leaves are still tolerable and actually, our trees are still green. I think we can still use the pool if we heat it but right now we are having a pump issue which is being worked on.Thanks for stopping by...Christine

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  18. wow this looks divine we used to live in Cleveland OH loved to visit Chagrin falls beautiful little town thanks for listening to the radio interview LOL Rebecca

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  19. This is my first visit to your blog. I'm visiting from the Seasonal Sundays party.

    I have printed out this recipe. It looks fabulous!!!! The hard part will be being self-controlled with my eating. I could probably eat the entire dish by myself.

    It's always sad when dear friends move away, isnt' it? But at least through the amazing technology we have now, we can still keep in close touch with them.

    Blessings,
    Patti (Fill My Cup with Beauty)

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  20. It sounds so yummy! I'm going to get the ingredients and make it.
    I go to visit Chagrin Falls every few years. It is the lovliest little city in Ohio. So glad to have found your blog.
    Cindy

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  21. This looks amazing and your pics are great!

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  22. This looks fabulous. I'm having my Book Club over this week and I was looking for some inspiration. Thanks for providing it!

    Thank you also for joining in Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  23. My favorite dish like that is just cheese, mayo,garlic and hot pepper...broil it and you have a perfect snack or something to share with friends who drop in... this looks like I'm going to add this to my short list. How can you beat caramelized onions??? Also, I love the way those onion skins look with the leaves... beautiful combo, Susan and great warm story.

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  24. So cute! I love the fall inspirations in the photos too!

    beholdthemetatron.com

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  25. That looks so delicious! Carmelized onions on anything are a favorite around here, so I'm glad to have your spread recipe~ your photos are amazing :-)

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  27. I've had yours and Woodie's recipes for awhile now ... they're back to back in one of my recipe binders. I'm going to make a real effort to finally give this a shot. I'll add your notes about the changes. Less mayo is always a good thing. Much rather more cheese. ;)

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  28. This does look like a really easy and flavorful appetizer! Lovely mosaic too!

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  29. Sounds and looks delicious. Perfect appetizers.

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  30. Oh, my ... the onion spread looks and sounds delicious! Great mosaic!

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  31. Now this is something I would love!! Nothing better than carmelized onions...

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  32. I am a fan of fried onions. The dip looks delicious.

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  33. That looks so good! I love caramelized onions- this takes them to another level!

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  34. Hmmmm, that looks so good and everyone here likes caramelized onions. Time to get a good baguette.

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  35. Your mosaic is making me very hungry, everything looks so delicious. Carmelized onions, my favorite. I taught my daughter that she must always have a pan on the stove carmelizing onions while she cooks. She said "Why is that, Mom." It's for you to eat, while you are making dinner, because the aroma of supper always will make you hungry too.
    Karen

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  36. Beautiful mosaic. Love all the colours.

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  37. Oh yum! I love your blog!!! You capture the season with your food pictures fabulously! Just gorgeous.
    Sherry

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  38. I just adore caramelized onions and your dip sounds divine! I just made Caramelized onion and Goat cheese toasts last weekend and am still craving that flavor. I look forward to trying your recipe - it sounds like you all had a wonderful weekend with your friends as well:)

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  39. Your mosaic is making my mouth water!! I can just imagine this slathered on a juicy hamburger...Mmmm

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  40. Living between 2 major universities means Game Time is HUGE around here. I have a similar recipe I make, but this one appeals to me because it's simpler- love this! I'm trying to catch up on some blog reading before surgery next week as I'm really afraid of how much I'll miss!
    xoxo Pattie

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  41. Simple can be the best! I'm printing this recipe right now. You're right, the ingredients are on hand right down to gruyere.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  42. I have a bag of sweet onions that will be perfect for this recipe. I know when I make this I won't be able to leave it alone.

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  43. Wow! This is some seariously jazzed up onion dip! But I'm still thinking it would make for an awesome Sudnay afternoon football-watching snack!

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  44. Very beautiful mosaic. Love all your photos! Your are so skilled Susan!

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  45. You got me at caramelised onions! yummy!

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  46. I love anything caramelized onion... this is a keeper

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  47. Looks like there are a lot of caramelized onion fans out there :-) Thank you for all the great comments and welcome to those of you who are first-time visiters!

    Monique, this is the same recipe! I don't think I ever had a recipe that didn't saute the onions first.

    Kathleen, the light mayo did not separate in this.

    Karen, you are so right about how good the house smells when onions are sauteing!

    Thanks again, everyone!

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  48. It sounds delicious!!! I definitely can't wait to make this and slather it over a baguette! It's perfect for game day if I can resist devouring it all before hand!

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  49. I like onions, but unfortunately so many of my family members do not, so I will have to save this recipe for a party when I know there will be others who will try it! It does look so delicious!

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  50. So first, you had me at caramelized onions. Then i saw this was a dip. And I truly fell in love. Glorious. It would make watching football totally worth it!

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  51. That looks awesome and I love the memories that you shared. You have been blessed with some wonderful friendships.

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  52. Susan, this looks like a perfect appitizer! My family will love it. I think I'll use gruyère first, can't seem to get enough of that cheese. Have you made it a day before and pulled it out of the fridge cold to heat up before or has it always been hot before baking?

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  53. Christie, we have eaten it the next day and it's been just as good. Not quite as pretty though. You could also caramelize the onions a day ahead and then mix and bake it on the day you want to serve it.

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  54. This looks fabulous, and so perfect for me right now. I'm currently addicted to a sweet onion marmalade & fig pizza at a little restaurant here in town. It's divine, but now I can recreate a spread of similar flavor right at home! Bliss!

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  55. Mmmm, my mouth is watering, Susan! Thanks for sharing the recipe at MM. :)

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  56. You're rigth: so simple, so good!

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  57. This sounds so good! I'm not a big mayo fan but the addition of the onions and cheese make it sound like it would all balance out nicely. I will definitely be trying this one day, thanks!

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  58. This looks incredibly good. I'm definitely going to give this recipe a try. Thanks!

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  59. Thank you for this, a lovely treat for snacks or even a starter. Yummy!

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  60. Oh Susan, I remember this!! Haven't thought about it in ages. And yes, it was delicious. Everyone loved it. Do you know, I don't think I even have it written down anyplace!
    Thanks for reminding me how great this was and how simple to make. As I remember, we spread it on toasts and then baked it. (Am I remembering that wrongly?)
    Anyway, I like the idea of baking it and then spreading it.
    Yum. And absolutely, I'm serving it next Saturday!

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  61. I am having a house full of guests this weekend and this would be perfect to make. I can imagine how wonderful it smells... and tastes!!!!!
    Beautiful photos!
    Could you answer this question~ I LOVE that you have a printable version for your recipies, how did you do that?
    Thanks for taking the time to answer!
    Always a visual delight to stop by... I always leave hungry!
    Yvonne

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  62. I hope you all try it and love it as much as we do :)

    Sandie, onion marmalade and fig pizza sounds soooo good!

    Barbara, I've never had it on toast. The recipe I got from my friend said to serve it on crackers or baguette slices but I'm sure that would be wonderful!

    Yvonne, you have mail!

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  63. MMMM! Its amazing how caramelized onions make a dish so much better! I love the idea of using this as an appetizer while tailgating!

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  64. Susan..I just prepared a post about this:) It's made..I of course refer back here..and I too love the Printable aspect..can you tell me too:)

    Soon it will appear on my little blog..Thanks..Thought of you the whole time.

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  65. It is the same recipe..but I didn't think we brought them to caramelization?:)Oy ..I never did..They'll think it's new..I just used to sautée them..

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  66. I can't wait to see it, M :) I'm sure your sauteed onions tasted equally as good. It's such a small difference anyway.

    I should have put the instructions here in the first place since there are probably other people wondering about printable recipes. All you need to do is go to www dot sites dot google dot com and create a site to host your recipes with your google account, which you already have if you use Blogger. If not, it's easy enough to create an account there. There is also lots of 'how to' information regarding Google Sites on the web.

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  67. Fantastica questa ricetta e deliziosa!!bravissima Susan..come sempre complimenti!!!ciao!

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  68. How did I miss this post???

    I could dive into that pan of onions all by itself! Gruyere is one of my favorite cheeses - must give this a try soon!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  69. Thank you for adding the rss feed - but as I see you have done it with Feedburner, I know that there is an option within it to activate a "subscribe by mail" window option. I never get to my feeds or readers in a timely fashion. I appreciate that you have done this much, so if you could just take another look and activate that portion, that would be great. Other readers will thank you, too.
    :)
    Valerie

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  70. You did it! Big hug to you. Truly. Thank you so very much. I bet it will increase your readership (not that you need it!), but I can see that we are like minded in many ways, and I do not want to miss your posts.
    Cheers... and big hug,
    Valerie

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  71. Susan, isn't this gorgeous! Just the thing for chilly fall days. I love the cheese addition. I wonder if you could put some chopped artichokes in it? Hmmm....

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  72. Susan, made this yesterday. It was delicious! Thanks for sharing!

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  73. Oh my goodness, I just discovered your blog through The Table Scaper. Your recipes sound fantastic & I can't wait to try the caramelized onion spread.
    CAS

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  74. I made this for football back when you posted it and used apple smoked cheddar and it went over like gangbusters. So, tonight I made it again using gruyer and added some ground sage, parsley, and cracked black pepper. A warning to everyone: you will spend the ENTIRE night of the party telling people the recipe to this "amazing dip"!

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  75. I am so happy to hear when a shared recipe is enjoyed, Cindy and Julia! Thank you so much for letting me know.

    Julia, I love your additions to the recipe!

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I appreciate your comment!