Cooking Tip For Onions and Garlic -- Nana's Secret to Great Flavor, If You Know How

Onions and garlic always add great flavor to mostSo now I use this little technique every time I make
dishes. But let me share with you a cooking techniquespaghetti sauce, casseroles, beef stroganoff, taco
on preparing them that will greatly enhance the flavorsoup and any other dish that calls for onion and garlic.
of your meals. Your guests will rave about yourOnce I made a Pampered Chef casserole with egg,
cooking.zucchini, onion and garlic and used my little technique.
Many dishes call for onions and garlic in their recipes.Well let me tell you, that dish disappeared fast with
You chop them up, saute them for 3 minutes and youmany requests for the recipe. When I made this dish
are done. This is where, in my opinion, they miss thepreviously without using my onion technique the dish
flavor boat.was nothing special.
When I was younger I would watch my husband'sSo if you have the time, and I believe it is definitely
Italian Nana cook spaghetti sauce and a number ofworth it, try Nana's tip.
other dishes and you know what she would do? SheOne thing to keep in mind is that the onion cooks down
would always, finely chop the onion and slowly sauteto just about half of what you start with so use double
them in olive oil for about 35 to 40 minutes. It was athe amount of onion that the recipe calls for. Don't
fairly slow process, because she would tend to theworry if it looks like way to much onion. Once it cooks
onions stirring them frequently as they slowly cooked.down, the amount will be just right.
Eventually the onion would cook down (to almost halfAgain, here is all there is to it:
of what she started with) and turn a nice goldenFinely chop up the amount of onion you will need. Pour
brown.olive oil into a frying pan. Be generous here. There is no
When the onion was about done Nana would addset amount. Say 3 or 4 tablespoons for one onion.
minced fresh garlic and saute the whole mixtureTurn the heat on to medium high. Add the onion stirring
another 4 or 5 minutes. What a wonderful smell thatfrequently, until it is reduced by 1/3 to 1/2. If the onion
was. Boy was her spaghetti sauce special and this isappears to be cooking too fast, turn the temperature
why I believe her dishes were so delicious.down to low. Just make sure the onion doesn't burn.
So I started using this technique every time I made aWhen you think it's done (after 35 to 40 minutes), add
dish that called for onion and garlic. You know what?the minced garlic and cook an additional 4 or 5 minutes.
Every time I sauteed the onion slowly in olive oil myNow add the onions and garlic to you favorite dish.
dishes were more flavorful. Special if you will.You are going to love the flavor.