Artificial Food Coloring Free Caramelized Onion Jam
Store-bought condiments and jams are notorious for sneaking in synthetic dyes — even savory spreads can hide surprising additives. This deeply savory-sweet onion jam skips all of that, built entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients you can feel good about. The magic here is pure patience: yellow onions slowly coaxed down in butter over low heat until they collapse into something rich, glossy, and deeply amber. A splash of apple cider vinegar cuts through the sweetness, honey adds a floral depth, and fresh thyme ties it all together with an herby brightness. Every bit of color in this jam comes straight from the caramelization process itself — no shortcuts, no additives, just chemistry and time doing their thing. Spoon it over a cheese board, tuck it into a sandwich, or stir it into a pan sauce, and you'll wonder why you ever reached for a jar from the store.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 lb yellow onions (about 4 medium), thinly sliced
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed
Instructions
- 1
Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat until foamy and just beginning to subside.
- 2
Add the sliced onions and salt, tossing to coat. Cook over medium heat, stirring every 3–4 minutes, until the onions have fully wilted and turned pale gold, about 20 minutes. If the onions begin to stick or brown unevenly before they have softened, add 1 tbsp of water and scrape up any fond.
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