BHA & BHT Free Caramelized Onion Jam

Total time1 hr 5 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time55 min

4.9

(16)

Slow-cooked onions have a kind of magic to them — given enough time and gentle heat, they transform into something deeply sweet, savory, and almost luxurious. This jam leans into that transformation fully, building layer after layer of flavor with nothing but butter, honey, apple cider vinegar, and a handful of fresh thyme. For anyone avoiding synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT, store-bought condiments and jarred spreads can be a minefield, since those additives show up constantly in packaged sauces and flavored products. Making your own means you know exactly what went into the jar. The apple cider vinegar adds just enough brightness to balance the sweetness from the honey, keeping the whole thing from tipping into cloying territory. Spread it on a cheese board, pile it onto a burger, or stir it into a grain bowl — it punches well above its weight for something made from such humble ingredients. A small jar of this in the fridge is genuinely one of the most useful things you can have on hand.

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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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