Onions and beef go together, which is why hamburgers are almost always served with a slice or two of fresh onion. It adds a crispness and unique flavor profile and blends well with virtually any condiment you want to top your burger with.
Raw onions sliced or diced as a topping is standard but taking the extra step to sauté your onions for your burger elevates the flavor by 10x. The most common way that people sautéed onions is with a little bit of butter in a frying pan, or on a grill safe pan that can be placed right on the BBQ. The caramelized onions release the sweetness inside the vegetable, for bite after bite of delicious flavors.
If you love onions on your burger, and you are looking for some new ways to sauté onions with some gourmet flair, check out these delicious ideas. Whether you are hosting a grill out for family and friends, or simply enjoying your Free Graze burger at home, we’ve got some sensational suggestions you can try.
Onions Are Healthy Antioxidants
Why should you top your Free Graze burger with onions? Because they are an easy way to add additional nutrients to your meal! Did you know that onions were used medicinally for over two thousand years, as a treatment for health conditions?
Onions are very nutrient dense, and low in calories but high in essential vitamins and minerals. The average medium onion has about 44 calories but is rich in B vitamins including vitamin B9 (folate) and the important vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) which helps to increase metabolism, the production of red blood cells and nerve functioning.
Potassium can be hard to source in our daily diet, but onions are loaded with potassium, benefiting muscle health, cellular and kidney functioning. Onions are also very high in vitamin C, which helps to produce collagen (for healthy skin and nails) and for the strengthening of the immune system. Dietary vitamin C is also essential to help your body absorb iron.
Lastly, onions are really good for cardiovascular health. They have high levels of antioxidants that reduce triglycerides and reduce cholesterol. Quercetin is highly concentrated in most varieties of onions, and this flavonoid is an anti-inflammatory that helps decrease the risk of heart disease, and hypertension (high blood pressure). When you consider all the nutritional and health benefits of eating onions on a regular basis, you can feel pretty good about piling them high on your favorite burger, once or twice per week.
Choosing and Preparing Your Onions
There are so many different types of onions you can choose to experiment with in the kitchen. One of the most important secrets to creating restaurant style sautéed onions is slice your onions into rounds, or circles. The less you cut your onion, the more flavor it will retain during the cooking or grilling process. Try to cut your onion ‘circles’ so that they are about ¼ of an inch in height, for juicy and wide onions that will stay on top of your burger, without falling out.
Here are some of the best onions to use as a sautéed burger topping:
Sweet onions, Vidalia, or Walla Walla have a high sugar content but an unbelievably sweet and tender flavor when they are cooked.
Red or purple onions are less sweet than Vidalia’s but have a great texture, and less water than other types of onions, making them easier to brown. And the color adds some visual interest. Many Chef’s combine them with sweet onions for a burger topping.
Shallot onions are not the best choice for a sautéed burger topping. They are mild, and the density of the onion means they fall apart easily when cooked. Shallots are, however, a great choice if you want a raw diced onion topping instead.
Brown Sugar and Bourbon Caramelized Onions
Many commercial burger or steak sauces have a bit of honey and bourbon in them. When you add these two ingredients to your onions, and allow them to absorb during the caramelization process, the flavors are simply incredible.
We loved this recipe from food blogger Lisa, at “The Cooking Bride”.
People who love this recipe for Honey Whiskey Caramelized onions can prepare them in a big batch and find so many other uses for them in the kitchen. Store the cooked onions in an air-tight mason jar in your refrigerator, and try them on top of your favorite sandwich, as a topping for your favorite broth soup, or on crostini as a quick, healthy and mouth-watering snack. They are also phenomenal as a topping on your favorite pizza!
Try this recipe with our Free Graze Turkey Burger, or classic Organic 100% beef burger.
Caramelized Onions with Beer
When you add a little beer to onions, something magical happens from a culinary perspective. It’s not uncommon to find beer battered onion rings, and that hint of hops blends so well with the robust flavors of the onion. The same thing happens when you sauté your onions with your favorite brew. The yeast in the beer, combined with the natural flavors really does ‘kick it up a notch’, and it’s the perfect grown-up condiment to serve when you are having company over.
Food blogger Christina, from “It’s a Keeper: Tried and True Easy Recipes” provides this take on the classic beer caramelized onion as a burger topping. What we liked about Christina’s recipe, was that she combined butter and healthy olive oil, which increases the heart-healthy benefits of this amazing homemade burger condiment.
Try this caramelized onion recipe as an extra topping on pizza. It can keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. And, it also makes a great host or hostess gift to bring along, when you are invited to a grill out.
Try this recipe with our Free Graze Berkshire Pork burger.
Sautéed Jalapeno and Onion Topping
Mui caliente! You know there are always a few in the crowd who love to experiment with natural, hot and spicy flavors on their favorite Free Graze burger. There are a couple safety rules with hot peppers that you shouldn’t ignore, such as… don’t touch your eyes (for any reason!) while you are cutting fresh jalapenos. But thankfully, that’s the only hazard you need to be aware of.
Check out this amazing recipe for Caramelized Onion and Jalapeno Dip! Not only can you serve it cold as a creamy and spicy burger topping, but you can also use it for tortilla chips or a vegetable crudité, as a healthy and delicious appetizer!
Pro Tip: Add a Bit of Baking Soda to Caramelize Your Onions
When you have placed your onions in the frying pan, it takes a bit of time for the onions to reduce or caramelize. That is because onions contain a high amount of water, and Chef’s call it “sweating” when you are stirring the onions over heat, to help them dehydrate and get to that delicious medium golden-brown color.
Professional Chef’s know a secret that many of us may not have tried. Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to your onions as they start to cook, actually decreases the amount of time it takes to carnalize your onions. The reason is that baking soda increases the pH level (or acidity) of the onions, reducing the time it takes for them to brown by as much as 50%. It helps the onions release the natural sugars in the vegetable and can also reduce the amount of oil or butter you need to brown them.
