Learn how to peel pearl onions efficiently and glaze them until tender and glossy. A classic French preparation for garnishes, braises and vegetable sides.
Scale This Recipe
Servings
Ingredients
Units
1 pound
1.5 tablespoons
unsalted butter
2 teaspoons
sugar
0.25 teaspoon
salt
Instructions
Peel the pearl onions:
1
Start by putting the onions in a bowl and cover them with hot water from the tap. Let them soak for about 5 minutes. Then with a cut off the core and tip ends and peel the skin off.
2
Once they are all peeled, you can add them to stews or soups. Or you could sauté them with some and red pepper for a fabulously colorful vegetable to serve with dinner.
Glacer à blanc :
3
Transfer onions to a small saucepan and half with water. Add butter, sugar, and salt. Cover with parchment paper with a chimney hole in the enter.
4
Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce to a , and cook shaking pan occasionally, until onions are completely tender and sauce water has reduced into a glossy white glaze, about 15 to 20 minutes to Glacer à blanc.
Glacer à blond:
5
When glacer à blanc is reached, continue cooking until the caramelized to golden. Keep shaking the pan to keep the glaze uniform. This will take an extra 3 to 5 minutes to Glacer à blond.
Glacer à brun :
6
When glacer à blond is reached, continue cooking until the glaze caramelized to brown. Keep shaking the pan to keep the glaze uniform. This will take an extra 2 to 3 minutes to glacer à brun.
Take your time caramelizing onions — rushing with high heat gives you color without the real depth of sweetness. If you'd like to go deeper, Knife Skills & Basic Cuts covers this in full.
If you'd ever like hands-on guidance for your own kitchen or restaurant, I also offer 1-on-1 coaching through OCS, or you can reach me directly for consulting at 911ChefEric.com.
Recipes come out right when you understand the method. Chef Eric’s courses teach the foundations step by step — knife skills, stocks, soups and classic French technique — with video lessons and short quizzes. Not sure where to start? OCRS™ will build your roadmap in five questions.
