Citrus Free Paleo Caramelized Onions
Caramelized onions are one of those kitchen transformations that feel almost magical — a pile of raw sliced onions slowly coaxing down into something deeply golden, jammy, and rich. This version keeps things clean and grain-free, built on just avocado oil, yellow onions, and a pinch of sea salt. For anyone avoiding citrus, the good news is that this recipe skips the lemon juice or orange zest that sometimes sneaks into caramelized onion recipes as a finishing touch — no substitutions needed here. The optional balsamic vinegar adds a subtle sweet tang that rounds out the savory depth without any citrus involvement whatsoever. Low and slow is the whole game: patience over medium-low heat and a little scraping of those browned bits is what builds the flavor. Pile them onto burgers, stir them into soups, or serve them alongside roasted meat — these onions make almost everything taste more impressive with very little effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 3 large yellow onions (about 2 lb), halved and thinly sliced
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat the avocado oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- 2
Add the sliced onions and salt, then stir to coat evenly in the oil. Cook, stirring every 3–4 minutes, until the onions have wilted and released most of their moisture, about 10 minutes.
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