I love the bittersweet flavor of caramelized onions but on the stovetop caramelizing onions is a laborious process of slow, constant stirring. Made in the slow cooker, caramelized onions require almost no attention. In this recipe, I have added sugar to the onions to ensure deeper flavor. Serve this luscious sauce over whole wheat pasta, Slow-Cooked Polenta or Basic Grits. Complete the meal with a tossed green salad topped with shredded carrots for a splash of healthy color.

Arugula-Laced Carmelized Onion Sauce

Vegan Friendly, Entertaining Worthy

Serves 4

•  Medium to large (31⁄2 to 5 quart) slow cooker

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp   olive oil                                                            
  • 6          onions, thinly sliced on the vertical (about 3 lbs)
  • 1 tsp     granulated sugar                                             
  • 1 tsp     cracked black peppercorns                            
  • 1 tbsp   white or red miso                                            
  • 3 cups   tomato sauce                                                  
  • 2 bunches arugula, stems removed and chopped (see Tips, left)
  • Cooked pasta, preferably whole-grain, polenta or grits

1.  In slow cooker stoneware, combine olive oil and onions. Stir well to coat onions thoroughly. Cover and cook on High for 1 hour, until onions are softened (see Tips).

2.  Add sugar and peppercorns and stir well. Place a clean tea towel, folded in half (so you will have two layers), over top of stoneware to absorb moisture. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours, stirring two or three times to ensure that the onions are browning evenly and replacing towel each time.

3.  Remove towels, add miso and stir well to ensure it is well integrated into the onions. Add tomato sauce and arugula and stir well to blend. Cover and cook on High for 30 minutes,
until mixture is hot and flavors have blended. Serve over hot whole-grain pasta, polenta or grits.

Tips

If you’re pressed for time you can soften the onions on the stovetop. Heat the oil over medium heat for 30 seconds in a large skillet. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the stoneware and continue with Step 2.

If you prefer a smoother sauce, combine the arugula with 1 cup of the tomato sauce in a food processor and pulse several times until the arugula is finely chopped and integrated into the sauce. Add to the onion mixture along with the remaining sauce.

If you are halving this recipe, be sure to use a small (11⁄2 to 31⁄2 quart) slow cooker.

Make Ahead:

Complete Steps 1 and 2. Cover and refrigerate onions for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to complete the recipe, in a saucepan, bring tomato sauce, miso and caramelized onions to a simmer over medium heat. Add arugula, return to a simmer and cook until nicely wilted and flavors meld.

Excerpted from The Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Judith Finlayson © 2010 Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Click here to purchase this week’s cookbook: The Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Judith Finlayson

Questions? Contact:

Martine Quibell

Manager, Publicity

Robert Rose Inc.

120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800

Toronto, Ontario   M4P 1E2

Phone 416-322-6552 x 3133

Fax 416-322-6936 

mquibell@robertrose.ca