Skip to main content

Sweet-and-Sour Onions

3.1

(2)

Zia Maria is a simple but delightful restaurant in Alghero, a popular tourist resort on a part of Sardinia's west coast known as the Coral Riviera. The dining room is very basic; a large fireplace and some antique cooking equipment are the only things to distract you from the traditional Sardinian menu. But that's a good thing, because once you start in on pickled artichokes and mushrooms, wild boar in sweet-and-sour broth, or ricotta ravioli with tomato sauce, you'll appreciate having few distractions. Each dish, like these tangy onions from the restaurant's selection of antipasti, is cooked and presented in straightforward fashion.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups dry white wine
1 1/2 cups distilled white vinegar
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 large garlic clove, peeled, crushed
10 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups fresh whole basil leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
2 pounds small cipolline onions or small boiling onions, blanched, peeled

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place all ingredients except onions in heavy large pot. Bring to boil over high heat. Add onions; reduce heat to medium and simmer until crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer onions to jar with lid. Increase heat to high and boil until liquid is reduced to 1 3/4 cups, about 20 minutes. Pour liquid over onions and cool.

    Step 2

    Cover onion mixture and refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 1 week and up to 1 month.

Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Like crispy gnocchi caprese and raspberry—brown butter skillet cake.
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
A flurry of fresh tarragon makes this speedy weeknight dish of seared cod and luscious, sun-colored pan sauce feel restaurant worthy.
Apple pie in doughnut hole form? We’re in love.
The secret to flavorful, never-greasy eggplant parm? Brine the eggplant first.
A spicy-funky upgrade for lettuce cups, sandwiches, and more.