I love the sizzling sounds onion rings make when they hit the hot pan. I love the aroma it gives while sauteing. Best of all, I love its uncomplicated sweetness. The simple, homey flavor of wilted, almost-caramelized onions is one of my favorite gustatory delights.
Caramelizing onions is easy. Get your oiled pan nice and hot, slide in the onions, keep stirring them from time to time till they’re golden brown. It takes at least ten minutes.
As delicious as caramelized onions are, I prefer my onion rings golden on the edges but still white in the middle. What? I said I liked them a little golden but still juicy and a little chewy-crunchy in the middle. Semi-caramelized? I guess so. Wilted and a little brown on the edges. Sort of like a dying leaf. But that doesn’t sound too appetizing.
After semi-caramelizing my onions, I take out about five rings and set them aside. These are to be eaten without any sauce, without any rice, just them and them alone. The fab five. My five almost-golden rings. I savor these five rings dramatically. Oh yes I do.
The rest of the wilted onions then are mixed with my viand of choice. This evening, it was canned sardines. While I’ve sworn off canned food for health reasons, I still cannot let go of canned sardines. And pork and beans. I love pork and beans. But onions don’t go well with it. Wait, we’re talking about sardines here. Focus!
Pour the sardines over rice and BOOM! Comfort food! Best eaten while wearing an oversized shirt and pajamas.
While sardines are very flavorful, the stars of this dish for me are the onion rings. The wilted, lightly tanned onion rings. They give the dish a sweetness that isn’t cloying but simply, heartily filling.
You want uncomplicated sweetness? Semi-caramelize some onion rings. The only complication could be your breath if you eat too much, but then you already knew that.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
kayni
January 16, 2009 at 2:10 am (15 years ago)funny thing because i was just blogging about another comfort food – tuyo. i also love sardines with onions. i had canned bangus (in tomato sauce) with caramelized onions last night, it was perfect over a mountain of steamy rice.
kaynis last blog post..Let’s Go Holoholo
sheng
January 16, 2009 at 5:25 am (15 years ago)And this makes me want to do something like this an hour later, it’s breakfast time and that’s just what I have in mind until you reminded me of it.
Tina
January 16, 2009 at 7:02 am (15 years ago)Yum. I like how you described the onion rings: uncomplicated sweetness.
Tinas last blog post..BTT: Songs and Lyrics
maver
January 16, 2009 at 8:17 am (15 years ago)sardines is loves especially during cold weather. try it with a bit of baguio pechay (or cabbage) and carrots. Sarap din!
maver
January 16, 2009 at 8:25 am (15 years ago)nga is LOVE 😀
notsquare
January 16, 2009 at 9:33 am (15 years ago)i LOVE onions! but i prefer them fresh and crunchy! 😀
youre making me hungry again! :p
anyway, just to let you know, i’ve convinced mark to treat me to a japanese dinner tonight. tee hee
HAPPY WEEKEND TONI! 😀
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Em Dy
January 16, 2009 at 10:50 pm (15 years ago)Why not sardines that come in a bottle? Love sardines too, especially if spicy.
Em Dys last blog post..Reality Show
Kay
January 17, 2009 at 12:22 am (15 years ago)Kakagutom naman yung post mo … *salivates*
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ayen
January 18, 2009 at 12:13 am (15 years ago). . . and suddenly, I feel hungry. it looks yummy!
ayens last blog post..Dreadful Stat!
witsandnuts
January 18, 2009 at 12:01 pm (15 years ago)I’ve cooked guisadong sardines for breakfast yesterday (I was inspired upon seeing the sardines photo from your Flickr few days ago). I added sotanghon to it and I think it was a heavenly Saturday breakfast. Heehee.
amee
January 19, 2009 at 3:28 am (15 years ago)hey toni.
just discovered caramelized onion rings myself.
as for canned sardines, a popular article on the NYTimes website lists sardines as good for you.
Loren
January 19, 2009 at 5:19 pm (15 years ago)Yummy! Love onions. And sardines with lots and lots of onions in it is great!
Mega
March 12, 2015 at 12:11 pm (9 years ago)Oh my, i can agree with you! Even back then this was our favorite canned food and add some caramelized onions.. perfect! I’m good with that.