Cocktail Onions
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Talk about an item that people have in their pantry that probably only has a single use that I know of. Sure the pearl onion is used for stews and other recipes but the cocktail onion I have yet to find a use except for a slim number of cocktails. There are many variations of recipes but many drive me mad since they never call for the spices to be placed in cheesecloth. The Gibson cocktail is supposed to be presented clean. Not with a random peppercorn floating around. These cocktail onions will stay around forever though once the onions lose their crunch, it's time to start over.
Ingredients
1¼ cups water
¾ cup distilled white vinegar
1 Tbsp. Kosher salt
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
2 Tbsp. whole black peppercorns
2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 Tbsp. yellow mustard seeds
2 sprigs thyme leaves, fresh
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. juniper berries
1 whole clove
3 star anise, whole
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1½ Tbsp. fennel seeds
2 cups pearl onions, peeled
Instructions
Create a 4" x 4" square with a piece a cheesecloth. Lay flat and add the garlic cloves, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, thyme, bay leaf, juniper berries, cloves, star anise, corriander, fennel seed and red pepper flakes. Gather up the cheesecloth to hold of the spice and tie at the top.
In a sauce pan combine the water, vinegar, Kosher salt and sugar. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until the sugars and salt dissolved. Add the spice packet and allow to simmer for 3 minutes.
In a mason jar add the onions pearl onions and pour the bine mixture including the spice packet.
Allow the onions to brine for at least 2 weeks.
Tags
Condiment
