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    Home » Recipes » Side dishes » Caramelized Shallots

    Caramelized Shallots

    Published: Feb 3, 2022 · Modified: Oct 4, 2022 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Caramelized shallots recipe photos with text overlay

    See how to make caramelized shallots in this easy 3 ingredient recipe. I love caramelizing shallots for pasta dishes, pizza toppings, and to use as a gourmet topping for burgers, sandwiches, you name it! Let’s cook them up…

    Caramelized Shallots

    HEY THERE — Don’t forget I post quick, easy recipes on Instagram. Join me at @sipbitego.

    Table of Contents

    • Why this caramelized shallots recipe is so good…
    • Ingredients
    • How to dice shallots for caramelizing them
    • How to caramelize shallots
    • FAQs
    • Meat thermometer recommendations
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Easy Caramelized Shallots Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Why this caramelized shallots recipe is so good…

    • Shallots are more flavorful than onions, with a more rich, nuanced flavor.
    • Use this recipe to add a gourmet touch to your favorite family meal ideas.
    • Complement coulotte steak, chicken, or fish dishes with this shallot-based side dish.
    • Use leftovers the next day in pasta with caramelized shallots.
    • Includes a video for beginners (scroll to bottom of page).
    Caramelized Shallots in a pan on the stove

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need to make caramelized shallots…

    Infographic with list of ingredients to make caramelized shallots
    • Shallots 
    • Olive oil
    • Salt (coarse sea salt or kosher salt)
    • You’ll see in the notes tips for using butter and sugar (optional, I usually don’t)

    Make shallot toasts by adding them to this recipe for brie on toasted baguette.

    How to dice shallots for caramelizing them

    Infographic demonstrating How to dice shallots for caramelizing them
    1. Cut both ends off shallot. Slice shallot in half lengthwise.
    2. Peel off the outer paper layer of shallot (to make it easy, I usually peel off the first ring of shallot, too.)
    3. Slice shallot in ½” segments, the long way. 
    4. Turn sliced shallots and dice to ½” segments the other way.
    sliced and diced shallots for caramelizing

    How to caramelize shallots

    Now I’ll walk you through it…

    Infographic demonstrating how to caramelize shallots step by step
    1. Set a medium or large pan on the stove to medium high heat. Use a cast iron skillet if you have it, or go rogue like me and use a nonstick pan (it works just fine for me!). Add oil and diced or sliced shallots to the pan. Leave them, without stirring, for a few minutes.
    2. Once oil begins bubbling and shallots begin browning and sizzling in the pan, add salt. 
    3. Reduce heat to medium and regularly stir for 5-10 minutes, until shallots caramelize to your desired level. I like mine golden brown, but always remove them before they get too brown and crispy. They’ll drastically reduce in size as they cook. 
    4. Remove caramelized shallots from the pan and transfer to a serving bowl. Enjoy!
    Spoonful of golden brown caramelized shallots

    Add these perfectly caramelized shallots to this pulled pork pasta, piled high on homemade hamburger patties, or as a topping for tri tip.

    FAQs

    Should you stir caramelized shallots?

    Yes, you do need to stir your shallots when you are caramelizing them! When you are cooking on medium-high, you’ll want to stir them frequently. Later when you turn down the heat you can focus elsewhere but will still want to give them the occasional stir.

    Are shallots healthier than onions?

    As it turns out, they are! Shallots have more manganese, vitamin B6, and manganese than onions.  They also have more calories, but neither onions nor shallots would be considered a high-calorie food.

    Do shallots make you cry?

    Cutting shallots can make your eyes tear up and itch— but your eyes will feel better as soon as those shallots are in the pan cooking. I find my eyes tear less if I have water running in the kitchen sink— try it and see if it helps you!

    What do you do with caramelized shallots?

    You can find some tasty recipes to use sliced or diced shallots in. See the NYTimes caramelized shallot pasta, HelloFresh caramelized onion risotto, or invent your own dish with other veggies like brussels sprouts and bacon. I also love adding them to cheese boards or toasts with brie.

    Can you caramelize shallots with butter?

    Yes, I tend to use olive oil instead, but sometimes I’ll add 1 tbsp of butter. What I do is melt the butter right in the pan at the beginning (with 1 tbsp olive oil) before adding the shallots. Or I’ll add in butter later, if the shallots are beginning to burn and the pan is drying out too much. I find this recipe to be very forgiving. Adding a seasoned butter like my compound garlic herb butter really bumps up the flavor.

    Do you add sugar to shallots?

    I usually don’t! I know in some recipes like caramelized onions or sautéed onions and peppers, people like adding all sorts of things like brown sugar, black pepper, and even vinegar. But usually when I’m making this simple shallots side dish for dinner I’m in a rush and just use a handful of ingredients within arms reach of my stove. You’re welcome to choose to use sugar and toss in a pinch of white sugar or brown sugar with the salt.

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    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Caramelizing Shallots

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Hey home chefs, hope that answers all your questions about how to caramelize shallots. 

    If you don’t follow me on instagram you totally should @sipbitego. And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel and see the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

    Caramelized Shallots

    Easy Caramelized Shallots Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    See how to caramelize shallots for pasta, pizza, to use as a gourmet topping for burgers, sandwiches, you name it!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: side
    Cuisine: American, French
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 160kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium shallots diced or sliced thin (see how-to instructions below)
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 tsp salt sea salt or kosher salt

    Instructions

    How to dice shallots for caramelizing them

    • Cut both ends off shallot. Slice shallot in half lengthwise.
    • Peel off the outer paper layer of shallot (to make it easy, I usually peel off the first ring of shallot, too.)
    • Slice shallot in ½” segments, the long way.
    • Turn sliced shallots and dice to ½” segments the other way.

    How to caramelize shallots

    • Set a medium or large pan on the stove to medium high heat. Use a cast iron skillet if you have it, or go rogue like me and use a nonstick pan (it works just fine for me!). Add oil and diced or sliced shallots to the pan. Leave them, without stirring, for a few minutes.
    • Once oil begins bubbling and shallots begin browning and sizzling in the pan, add salt.
    • Reduce heat to medium and regularly stir for 5-10 minutes, until shallots caramelize to your desired level. I like mine golden brown, but always remove them before they get too brown and crispy. They’ll drastically reduce in size as they cook.
    • Remove caramelized shallots from the pan and transfer to a serving bowl. Rest until cool and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/caramelized-shallots
    See the recipe video for how to caramelize shallots on Sip Bite Go’s YouTube.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 1169mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

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    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

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    But here I am!

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