Total Time: 1 hour Recipe Adapted From: Ina Garten
Not only are shallots more nuanced in flavor than pearl onions, they’re far easier to disrobe from their clingy papery skins. Still, we won’t say no to shortcuts when it comes to stripping shallots of their papery skins, especially when in the throes of dinner party prep. So we wanted to share what the lovely Barefoot Contessa has to say on the topic. She drops whole shallots in a pot of boiling water for just shy of a minute, then drains them. The skins slip off with the utmost of ease, says the good BC. Furthermore, the good Contessa continues, you can peel the shallots hours in advance and later, when you’re juggling everything else, simply give them a quick sauté before tossing them in the oven. How easy is that?
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3 oz)
- 2 pounds shallots, peeled, roots intact
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons good red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Melt the butter in a 12-inch ovenproof sauté pan or cast-iron skillet. Add the shallots and sugar and toss to coat. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the shallots start to brown.
3. Add the vinegar, salt, and pepper and toss well. Place the pan or skillet in the oven and roast until they are tender, 15 to 50 minutes, depending on the size of the shallots. (Don’t worry about the variance in cooking temperature, if the shallots are done before the rest of dinner, transfer them to a plate, hold at room temperature, and then slide back into the oven for just a few minutes to warm.)
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot