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. 🙂