I love this side dish! When onions are cooked, they release their sugars, resulting in a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. On the grill, they take on a somewhat smokey profile from the char -- mmm so good! Since there is so much flavor coming from the onions, this recipe only calls for a small handful of ingredients that enhance the overall dish. Try pairing this with grilled red meats for a hearty summer dinner.
Ingredients
(serves 4-6 as a side)
Served here with grilled lamb shoulder (over sautéed rainbow chard) and with my sweet potato, goat cheese and pickled onion side…. a delicious summer dinner!
2 medium sized red onions, sliced into ½ inch rounds (about 4-5 slices per onion)
¼ cup goat cheese, crumbled
¼ cup of chopped parsley
2 tbsp avocado oil
2 tbsp high quality balsamic vinegar (like Napa Valley Naturals)
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat the grill
Season sliced onion rounds with avocado oil (great for cooking at high temps) and salt and pepper
Grill for 6 minutes per side
Once off the grill, drizzle 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
Top with goat cheese crumbles and parsley. Serve.
Alternatively, you can sauté onions and caramelize in a sauté pan instead of grilling
Onions were this week’s “Ingredient of the Week.” Read on to learn about the health benefits they have to offer!
They contain high amounts of quercetin, which is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an antihistamine phytonutrient that can reduce the effects of histamine on the immune system.
They are a rich source of sulfur, which helps to improve our detoxification process by removing toxins and heavy metals.
They help boost our immune system function with their high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants.
They are great for boosting heart health because they lower the risk of blood clot formation. Plus, they can protect against “bad” LDL cholesterol by reducing harmful free radicals within blood vessels
Another plus - they are a regular on the clean 15 list - so no need to buy organic if you’re on a budget or can’t find an organic option!
Sources and Additional Reading
https://www.onions-usa.org/all-about-onions/onion-health-research
https://draxe.com/nutrition/vegetables/onion-nutrition/
https://www.theharvestkitchen.com/health-benefits-of-eating-onions/
https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/13-benefits-onion/
