Creamed Red And White Pearl Onions With Bacon Recipe (2024)

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Perignon

A simple trick: Slice the bacon lengthwise before you dice it, (mostly) separating the fat from the meat. Now dice it in two separate piles, the mostly fat and the mostly meat. Follow the recipe directions above, but put the fatty pieces in first & cook for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, then add the meaty pieces and stir until all is crisp.

I use this all the time, including when making clam chowder. You end up with less fat, all the flavor, and reduce the odds of overcooking the meat.

Lisa

Lyn - is this the recipe? It is from the LA times circa 1997.
Compote of Pearl Onions with Smoked Bacon, Brandy, Cream and Chives
from Carrie Nahabedian of the Gardens Restaurant at the Four Seasons
2 pounds white pearl onions, peeled
6 slices smoked bacon, preferably applewood-smoked
2 ounces brandy
1 pint heavy cream
salt and freshly ground pepper
fresh chives, chopped for garnish

Lisa

Here is the link for all of the instructions to make it:
http://articles.latimes.com/1997/nov/23/magazine/tm-56687/3

Anne

OK Folks, here is the challenge: I have watched videos, read directions, looked at websites AND. almost 3 POUNDS of pearl onions turned into less than 1 pound after the trimming and blanching and squeezing. SO - to the store - frozen white pearl onions! (they don't sell frozen red ones)What I am I doing wrong before I toss this recipe (which is incredibly good) and another one from an old Gourmet magazine? Recipes say that frozen ones do not taste as good...mushy, etc.

Socorro

The pearl onions looked beautiful without the cream sauce. Tasted great with the sauce but: "Stir onions into cream to heat through". Unfortunately, this covered all the beautiful onions...big mistake. The directions should state to 'PLACE' the onions in the sauce. followed by bacon, etc. Then proceed to broiler.

John

The recipe calls for heating the onions through in the cream - on the stovetop - before broiling them. Broiling is just to brown crumbs, not to cook the onions, and whenever broiling, you should keep a close eye on things because the difference between nicely browned and burned to a crisp is sometimes a very short time.

Rachael Heath

This is a great recipe. I wasnt thrilled to be tasked with a pearled onion side dish a couple Christmas’s ago, but after making this that one time I have happily made it the next three years as requested. It’s perfect as is, but I do like to add mushrooms or greens for a little more substance to it. It turns it from a condiment into slightly more of a side.

betsy bobo

Did the five minutes in boiling water actually cooke the onions enough to be tender?

byrne Sleeper

Can this be made ahead? Would I reheat slowly and then add bread crumbs and cheese and bacon at the end before serving?

Heidi

Swapping the bacon for wild mushrooms will not steer your wrong.

Tommyt

Peeling the onions was a task, glad I did this days before thanksgiving. We don't do swine so I topped it with a deep fried shallot/sage/breadcrumb thing that Samin Noserat made in a video. That was time consuming as well but everybody agreed it was a great addition to our feast.

Rachael Heath

This was the PERFECT addition to prime rib Christmas morning. At first I thought it was a boring ask when my in laws wanted us to bring pearled onions, but it was honestly one of the best things at the table. Can’t go wrong with bacon cream and onion! My recommendation is to buy quite a few extra onions. They get smaller when you peel them and I definitely could have used another handful. Also don’t be shy with kosher salt and pepper at the end for a final seasoning! 6 adults polished this off.

Bacon!

I halved the recipe for everything except the bacon and it was perfect. Also skipped the butter and just cooked shallots and garlic in the bacon fat instead of pouring it off. In other words, if following the recipe, double the bacon!

Joanna

Has anyone tried a veg version of this and if so what did you successfully use? Would shiitake work?

Lauren

Can this be made ahead of time?

Cindy S

Don't broil for 10 minutes unattended! It burns quick!!

Anne

OK Folks, here is the challenge: I have watched videos, read directions, looked at websites AND. almost 3 POUNDS of pearl onions turned into less than 1 pound after the trimming and blanching and squeezing. SO - to the store - frozen white pearl onions! (they don't sell frozen red ones)What I am I doing wrong before I toss this recipe (which is incredibly good) and another one from an old Gourmet magazine? Recipes say that frozen ones do not taste as good...mushy, etc.

kathycookstoo

Been there. And,I haven't found any frozen pearl onions in my area.

Rick Wagner

From a novice cook:Wonderful dish. Cooked and peeled onions the day before, so they were cold when mixed with sauce. Followed directions and broiled which, in 5 minutes, left onions cold but bread crumbs burned. Maybe with more experience I could have foreseen this. Was fine with dead crumbs removed and rest baked.

John

The recipe calls for heating the onions through in the cream - on the stovetop - before broiling them. Broiling is just to brown crumbs, not to cook the onions, and whenever broiling, you should keep a close eye on things because the difference between nicely browned and burned to a crisp is sometimes a very short time.

Javajo

Perhaps my onions were bigger than most (although they were labeled "pearl"), but blanching and 10 minutes under the broiler wasn't enough cooking time. If I make this again, I will boil the onions until just about done.

Socorro

The pearl onions looked beautiful without the cream sauce. Tasted great with the sauce but: "Stir onions into cream to heat through". Unfortunately, this covered all the beautiful onions...big mistake. The directions should state to 'PLACE' the onions in the sauce. followed by bacon, etc. Then proceed to broiler.

Julie

Delicious, but I found my sauce didn't thicken and reduce as much as I would have liked, even though I had it reducing for quite a while but once I added breadcrumbs it was fine. Didn't find the red onion, so just used white, but want to try it again with the red. I also added a drop of sherry.

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Creamed Red And White Pearl Onions With Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are red pearl onions the same as white pearl onions? ›

Red pearl onions have reddish-purple skin that's similar in color to large red onions. Usually they're milder in flavor than white pearl onions. Pearl onions always have to be peeled before use, which can be tricky.

Do you peel white pearl onions before cooking? ›

Like other onions, pearl onions need to be peeled before use. Unlike their larger onion counterparts, pearl onions are trickier to peel thanks to their tiny size. The fastest way to peel pearl onions is to use a blanching method.

What are white pearl onions good for? ›

Pearl onions contain chemical compounds that have health benefits including helping cardiovascular health and stabilize blood sugar levels, and acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Are Silverskin onions the same as pearl onions? ›

The pearl onion also known as button, baby or silverskin onions in the UK, is a close relative of the leek and may be distinguished from common onions by having only a single storage leaf, similar to cloves of garlic. In French they are known as oignon grelot.

What are red pearl onions used for? ›

Red Pearl onions are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as grilling, roasting, and pickling. The small bulbs are most commonly used whole, and the skins can be peeled by boiling for two minutes, dropping in ice water, cutting off the ends, and then pinching the flesh out from under the skin.

What is the best tasting onion? ›

Vidalia, Walla Walla, Cipollini varieties are inherently sweet onions. These varieties have become extremely popular and for good reason. They are good cooked but they are very mild and are excellent eaten raw.

Why do you soak white onions in water? ›

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended. Squeeze out excess water before using.

Why do Mexicans use white onions? ›

As I suggested, Mexican recipes generally call for white onions. They are milder and often a bit sweeter than yellow globes. You can use them raw for salsa or scattered over a dish as garnish. Great for color, obviously.

Do pearl onions need to be refrigerated? ›

So anything from red, white, yellow, pearl, diminutive pearl, shallot, to cipollini will all stay safe to eat as long as they're tucked away in a cool, dark space, preferably with some air circulation.

What is the difference between pearl and cipollini onions? ›

Marble-sized pearl or baby onions are miniature varieties that add flavor and texture to pickles, kabobs, stews, and roasted or simmered veggie medleys. Cipollini onions are a slightly larger Italian variety with flat stem and root ends.

Can you eat white pearl onions raw? ›

White Pearl onions are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as creaming, roasting, pickling, and glazing.

What are the healthiest onions to buy? ›

Red onions

All types of onions are good for you, but this dark reddish-purple variety, sometimes called purple onion, has especially high levels of quercetin and other helpful plant compounds known as flavonoids. Flavonoids give many fruits, vegetables, and flowers their colors.

How to cook pearl onions quickly? ›

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add onions and cook until outer layers are soft, about 1 1/2 minutes. Drain onions and run under cool water until cold enough to handle. Peel onions with your fingers and discard peels.

Are there red pearl onions? ›

We know they're a pain to peel, but we promise that these jewellike pearl onions are worth it. Cooked until just tender, they make a dazzling addition to the meal.

What is the difference between red onion and white onion? ›

"Raw, red is the spiciest followed by white, then yellow," says Weinstein, adding that you should choose which kind to use based on how much spiciness the dish you're making requires. "For raw onion dishes, choose onions that fulfill a need," he says.

Do red onions and white onions taste different? ›

Sweetness is the red onion's greatest strength. The sharpness of its flavor and the intensity of its smell are slightly more potent than that of the white onion, but the sugar content is much higher.

Do white and red onions taste different? ›

Red onions tend to have a much sharper flavor than yellow and white onions - which is why you might find yourself shedding more tears when you slice them, and why Scott Conant famously dislikes them on Chopped! However, while they have that sharp flavor, the sugar content is quite high.

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