Name: Caramelized Mushrooms And Onions Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 TBS plant-based butter or margarine; 1 tsp olive oil; 2 cups Portabellini mushrooms, sliced; 1 large white onion, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp fresh thyme OR dried; 1/2 cup dry white wine; 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce; 1 tsp maple syrup

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You know how sometimes you really need a tasty topping for a dish, and you can’t think of one on the spot? This is it. It’s caramelized mushrooms and onions. This is a really tasty vegetarian topping that goes well with just about any base. We’ll get into that later.

I love the way the little mushroom slices slurp and suck up all the different flavors that go into this dish. They’re a real treat.

Keep this recipe up your sleeve as a great veggie topping or savory treat next time you have guests coming around.

What are caramelized mushrooms and onions?

Caramelized mushrooms and onions are a delicious topping that is full of different flavors.

The mushrooms act like little sponges and suck up all the herby, sweet and salty ingredients they get cooked with.

This dish makes an insanely good addition to a bunch of everyday dishes. Looking for a great veggies-based alternative to meat?

Mushrooms are it. Partnered with onions, they are just dreamy.

Ingredients you’ll need

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this mouth-watering recipe. I make a plant-based version, but you can switch the maple syrup and plant-based butter for honey and regular butter if you prefer.

2 TBS plant-based butter or margarine
1 tsp olive oil
2 cups Portabellini mushrooms, sliced
1 large white onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh thyme OR dried
½ cup dry white wine
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp maple syrup

How to make caramelized mushrooms and onions

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to cook up this awesome recipe:

Step 1:

In a large skillet, heat the vegetarian butter and olive oil together over a medium heat.

Step 2:

Add the sliced mushrooms and onion to the pan. Mix them all altogether and allow them to cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 3:

Add in the garlic, thyme, and salt.

Step 4:

Mix in the Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup, and half of the wine. Allow everything to simmer and cook together until the wine has evaporated and been absorbed by the mushrooms. This should take about 10 minutes.

Step 5:

Pour in the rest of the wine and cook for another 15 minutes.

Step 6:

Turn up the heat and allow the vegetables to cook and caramelize beautifully. There should be no more liquid, it should’ve all absorbed into the veggies, and the excess should’ve evaporated.

How to store

You can store your mushroom and onion mix in a covered glass bowl or any airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to keep my mix airtight, or the garlic and onions permeate the other fridge contents. I prefer to store a buttery onion mix in a glass as opposed to in plastic. Plastic can take on oil and the smell of onion and garlic.

What goes well with caramelized onions?

So much, guys. This is a really great topping and addition to the following:

Pizza! Need I say more?
Pasta – goes great with a light creamy sauce and some fresh arugula. Shave on some Parmesan or crumble over some feta, and you’re there.
On bruschetta or baguette toasts with a sliver of halloumi.
In a wrap with salad and cheese
With chicken strips and salad
As a vegetable side dish
Perfect as a burger topping
To top a steak or grilled chicken breast with

Tips and tricks

Here are a couple of pro tips and tricks to ensure you get the best bowl of caramelized mushrooms and onions possible!

Don’t wash your mushrooms. Remember, they are porous and behave like little sponges. If you wash mushrooms, they are likely to absorb a ton of water and then will land up soggy when cooked. Instead, try wiping them with a damp tea towel. This will give you a clean but dry mushroom to work with.
Don’t add your garlic too early on. Garlic burns even quicker than onions do, so I like to wait until the onions have softened up before adding garlic to the mixture.
Test your seasoning before serving. Mushrooms can be kind of bland if not seasoned properly; you may need a little extra salt, so check this out before signing off on your dish.
Use a good quality wine. I’m not talking top-of-the-range, but if it’s not good enough to drink, don’t add it to your food.
Use vegetarian butter and oil together. Don’t skip the oil. The oil increases the butter’s smoking point. If you are using dairy butter, this is even a very necessary point, or your butter will burn too quickly.

caramelized mushrooms and onions for burgers

FAQ

What happens when you caramelize onions?

The sugars in the onion begin to cook and develop. Onions soften and sweeten up when caramelized and develop a slightly nutty flavor.

Do you caramelize onions with the lid on or off?

I like to caramelize my onions with the lid off so that all the liquid will be absorbed and evaporate effectively.

Why are my caramelized onions mushy?

Because they have overcooked in too much liquid and oil, onions can become mushy if they simmer in too much oil or butter as they absorb the fat and that, together with the heat, breaks down their structure.

How do you keep caramelized onions from burning?

Cook them on medium heat and stir them continuously. Keep your eye on them, basically. Onions can burn quite quickly, and once they have burned, they can’t really be saved. Burnt onions can make a dish taste bitter.