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Roasted Cipollini Onions with Thyme are easily prepared. They are perfect as a vegetarian starter or as a great accompaniment to steak or poultry.
Pronounced chip-oh-LEE-knee, this is an Italian heirloom onion variety. Their name, in Italian, means “little onion”. Cipollini is a more uncommon variety of onion. I bought these from the Adelaide Central Market but I have seen them in good greengrocers and some supermarkets. Believe me, they are worth seeking out. Whilst more expensive than regular onions, they are worth paying a little more to have as an occasional treat.
The onions are a flat, saucer shape with thin, papery skins. These onions contain more natural sugar than regular white or brown onions. As such, I love to enhance their flavour by roasting. They caramelise beautifully. You will find the onions become incredibly soft and sweet. To balance the caramelisation I have added the savoury flavour of thyme.
To prepare the onions –
Firstly, it is necessary to peel them. To begin with, this can take a little more effort than a regular onion. (The thin, papery skins should be gradually eased off.) Toss the onions with fresh thyme and olive oil, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast in a hot oven until they’re tender.
I like to serve the Cipollini on a bed of rocket, drizzled with Balsamic Glaze and some fresh goat cheese. The mild acidity of the goat cheese beautifully complements the sweetness of the onions. The addition of the Balsamic Glaze makes this a sophisticated dish. The resulting platter is aesthetically pleasing. The beautiful Cipollini, rich with caramelised flavour, sit on a bed of mildly bitter greens, the Balsamic Glaze is drizzled across and small cubes of fresh goat cheese are randomly scattered.
I adore this dish of caramelised onion sweetness; I think you will too.
Xx Alex and Faye
P.S. Love vegetables as much as we do? Give our Baked Stuffed Mushrooms a try!
Roasted Cipollini Onions with Thyme
Ingredients
- 3 Cipollini Onions about 270 grams
- 3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin, divided
- 6 stalks fresh thyme
- 50 gm rocket leaves more if you desire
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 40 gm fresh goat cheese cut into small cubes
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 Degrees C (400 F).
- Remove the thin, papery skins of the Cipollini. Trim the root, but leave most of it on so the onion retains its shape.
- In a small roasting tin or cast iron skillet, toss the Cipollini and the fresh thyme with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
Season the Cipollini with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. - Put the roasting tin or skillet in the preheated oven. Roast the Cipollini for about 35 mins, turning several times to ensure the sides brown evenly.
- Test with a skewer or the point of a sharp knife to ensure they are cooked. Remove from the oven.
- Place rocket on a serving platter. Arrange onions on the rocket and scatter over the cubed goat cheese. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and Balsamic Glaze.
Notes
Nutrition
I put thyme in almost all my food ? but never tried thyme and onions. To be honest not really a fan of onions but still thanks for the recipe
Erik, I love thyme too. It is a great flavour booster and works so well with onions. Let me know if you try it. 🙂
I think this would be a perfect side for my grilled chicken, it’s sounds so easy to prepare. ?
Owen these would be perfect with your grilled chicken. Sounds like a great meal. Enjoy! 🙂
This recipe is perfect, luckily I already have a goat cheese and olive oil, my sister bought it from an outing and she’s thinking how to consume it.
Thank you, please let me know if you try the recipe. 🙂
I love reading the way to prepare this simple Cipollini Onions recipe. This one sounds interesting.
Hi Kalyan, these onions are a great side dish or even a vegetarian starter. Please let me know if you make them. 🙂
I love balsamic with onions so I always have it on hand! I’m gonna have to give this a try. it sounds so savory!
That’s great Jules, I’m so pleased that you are going to try the recipe. I do hope that you enjoy the onions. 🙂
Hmmm I love thyme but not so much a fan of onions. My boyfriend loves onions but not thymes. I think this would be perfect for the two of us.
Hi Kathy, please let me know if you make the onions. 🙂
looks delicious and totally doable by not very skilled cook. thanks!
Hi Lyosha, I encourage you to try them, they are not difficult to make and are absolutely delicious. 🙂
This is all new to me, I mean have never heard of that onions before but just looking at it tells me it will taste good.
It’s a great recipe Lydia, I do hope that you try it. 🙂
Roasted onions are seriously SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!! I am going to try your recipe this weekend when we BBQ!
I am so happy to hear that Bree. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Normally I’m not a huge onion person but this roasted version looks delectable!
It is delicious Shane. I do hope that you try it. 🙂
Anything with roasted or caramelized onions and you got my mouth WATERING!
I absolutely agree; always a winner. 🙂
eek, I don’t like onions. However my step mom is a huge fan and loves to cook, I’ll show her this and I’m sure she’ll try it out.
Thank you for sharing the recipe with your stepmother; I do hope that she enjoys it. 🙂
This sounds really good 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you, it’s a great recipe. I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
This dish sounds so delicious!! I have to try it.
Hi Adriana, I do hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
Thyme is such a great seasoning!
It’s one of my favourites Britney. 🙂
I never knew that this type of onion existed. It looks absolutely delicious. I love the way that you cooked it.
Thank you Nina, they are beautiful onions and lend themselves to being roasted. They make a great side dish. 🙂
Looks like a delightful dish to try. I really love the simplicity and the distinct taste this has. My mouth is watering already.
Hi Ruth, roasted onions have such beautiful flavour. Let me know if you try them. 🙂
Never knew onions can look this yummy! Now that I’m older I’m already come to like onions. This is perfect.
I’m so pleased that you like the recipe. They are certainly delicious prepared this way. 🙂
Oh wow these cipollini onions look divine! This would be a great pairing with a salmon or shrimp I bet.
Hi Jennifer, it’s a great way to enjoy onions. Please let me know if you make them. 🙂
I thought I’d tried every recipe there could possibly be with onions but you’ve thrown a new recipe at me. I can’t wait to try this. I love dishes like this for brunch and I know I’m really going to enjoy this.
Thank you Terri for the feedback. I love the dish – I hope you try it.:)
This is my first time hearing of cipollini onions, but they (and this recipe) look fantastic!!! I love onions paired with ribeye steak! Will try to make these.
Amber, these would be perfect with a steak. Sounds so good. 🙂
Ooooh they look fantastic! I never had onions like this before but they look so good!
They are truly delicious. Let me know if you make them. 🙂
This recipe seems too good to be true especially since it takes less than an hour and even less to prep the meal.
Hi Jess, all those positives – and they also taste amazing! 🙂
This sounds so amazing. I need to make these this weekend.
Let me know if you do Tara. I really like these, they are delicious. 🙂
Now this sounds like such an interesting way to use onions! I don’t think I’ve ever tried anything quite like this!
Hi Sarah, they are delicious prepared this way. Let me know if you try it. 🙂
Okay this looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing, will totally try this recipe out!
Hi Krysten, I’m so glad you like it. Let me know how you get on. 🙂
Your recipe part is always helpful. And I like that the nutritional list is always there. Great job!
Thank you Michael, I do appreciate your lovely feedback. 🙂
Everything that is roasted, grilled and baked drives me crazy! Especially vegetables!
Me too Cristina! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
OMG I LOVE cipollini onions! This recipe sounds absolutely incredible. I know what I will be making for dinner tonight.
Stephanie, these are great. Let me know if you make them. 🙂
These look so tasty, a great way to start a meal and perfect for the Autumnal months.
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 So glad you like the look of this!
Looks scrumptious! I’ve never had roasted vegetables with onions as the main ingredient before. Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Enjoy Amy – love to know what you do think when you try!! 🙂
Sooooo yummy! And with goat cheese – DELICIOUS! Thank you for sharing – going to try for dinner.
My pleasure, Christina! Enjoy!! 🙂
I have never thought of roasted onions! I love that you gave the nutrition facts!
Thank you, Liza – that was very important to me when setting up the blog 🙂 So glad you appreciate it!
I am not a huge fan of eating onions but love the aroma that it can provide to meals.
Hi Daphne! Yes, it has a fantastic aroma 🙂 You may prefer to just have the salad with the balsamic glaze if you are making this dish for others. 🙂
This is definitely a new recipe for me. Haven’t encountered this. But i bet it tastes good.. I love those white onions.
Hi Wendy! I am so glad to share a new recipe with you 🙂 Enjoy!
I don’t remember ever seeing these onions in the store, but I will be on the look out now! That looks amazing!
Hi Stacey! I hope you’ll be able to find them – they are so good! 🙂
I love onions, but I never heard of these. But I need to look for them because I think you are right. They would be perfect next to a great steak.
Hi Stacey! So glad you agree – hopefully you will be able to find them 🙂
i’d love to try this! we are all big onion eaters here, my husband would flip
Oh fantastic – you will just love this then! 🙂
Wow that looks so yummy! Pinning to share!
Hollie w/ https://www.quirkybohemianmama.com/
Thank you, Hollie! Appreciate that 🙂
Oh my goodness, these look so yummy! And easy to make! great recipe 🙂
Thank you, Gemma! Appreciate you stopping by 🙂
We love roasting onions, it caramelizes them and they taste so sweet! Love this recipe!
Thank you, Evelyn 🙂 So glad you agree!
This looks so good and I bet it amazing.
Thank you, Sue! Enjoy 🙂
These look incredibly delicious and really do look as if they’d make the perfect side. I love thyme, its a great herb to use in dishes.
Thanks so much – I agree, love thyme! Enjoy 🙂
That recipe is so simple and easy to make but it really delicious, I will def try that.
Thank you, Catherine! Enjoy! Let me know when you do 🙂
MMmmm. I have a good steak in the refrigerator waiting for the right sides and I think this one is it. Thank you!
Hi Terri! I hope you’ll love this with your steak! Let me know your thoughts! Enjoy 🙂
These sound so wonderful, I love any roasted veg and herbs are a must. Thyme, rosemary and oregano are my favourite to add.
Thank you so much, Fiona! I think we have exactly the same favourite herbs also – I also love basil! 🙂
Very interesting! It looks yummy for sure, and anything with goat cheese is a winner in my book!
Hi Ayana! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂 Enjoy!
I can’t thank you enough for this awesome recipe! It turned out to be DELICIOUS!!!
Hello Chad, thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
These look really yummy! I need to try them!
Thanks, Melanie! I really hope you’ll enjoy them 🙂
I like how this recipe is easy to prepare only 10 mins and the calories intake is kind of low. Great for my diet.
So great – thank you 🙂 enjoy!
Oh wow! Those look so good! That looks perfect to pair with beef and some mixed veggies. Yum!
Yes, Stacie – that sounds perfect 🙂
Oh yum yum. Love onions. Need to try them roasted like this.
Please do, Alice – and let me know what you think 🙂
A perfect side dish. Delicious.
Fantastic – thank you so much, Brian. Enjoy! 🙂
It’s only breakfast time and I’m hungry now! This sounds great!!!
Thanks so much, Teresa 🙂