Creamy Pearl Onions

Name: Creamy Pearl Onions
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lb. pearl onions; 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter; 1 yellow onion, minced; 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme; 2 1/2 Tbs. all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste; 3/4 cup fine dried white bread crumbs

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Creamed onions are a seasonal favorite, especially on the holiday table. Pearl onions, traditionally any white onion less than 1 1/2 inches in diameter, are best for this dish. A number of different-colored pearl onions are available at well-stocked markets today, including white, yellow and purple.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 65 minutes

Servings 6

Serves 6.

Ingredients

2 lb. pearl onions
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, minced
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
2 1/2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3/4 cup fine dried white bread crumbs

Directions

Bring a saucepan half full of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pearl onions and cook for 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the onions, rinse with cold water and drain. Reserve the water in the pot. Trim off the ends of each onion, then cut a shallow X into each trimmed end. Squeeze each onion gently to slip off the skin.

Bring the water back to a boil. Add the onions, reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the onions are soft when pierced with a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the onions to a bowl. Continue to boil the cooking liquid until reduced to 1 cup, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside.

Position a rack in the upper third of an oven and preheat to 375°F.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 Tbs. of the butter. Add the minced onion and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 7 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until well mixed and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, the milk and cream. Cook until the sauce boils and thickens slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Add the pearl onions, adjust the heat to a gentle simmer and cook until the onions are hot, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the onion mixture to a 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the top. Cut the remaining 1 Tbs. butter into 6 equal pieces and dot the bread crumbs evenly with the butter. Bake until the crumbs are golden and small bubbles appear along the edges of the dish, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 6.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Seasonal Celebration Series, Autumn, by Joanne Weir (Time-Life Books, 1997).