The One Condiment I Cook All Summer Long

Growing up, I knew summer was here when my dad came home with a big case of flank steaks that he would stash in the freezer. Once a week, he would grill the steaks with a baked potato and veggies, but, to be honest, the caramelized onions that my mom cooked were always the highlight of the meal. In fact, she would portion them out when she served them to stop my brother and I from hogging them all, which I was definitely capable of doing.

To this day, I still adore caramelized onions, but I don’t love the time and attention required to cook them on the stove, especially on a hot summer day. Luckily, there’s an easy way around that, and it’s all thanks to Food Network Kitchen’s recipe for Instant Pot Caramelized Onions. With this method, you pressure cook the onions for about four minutes first, which means they’re already tender and golden by the time you start stirring. A splash of balsamic vinegar and a sprig of thyme infuse the onions with plenty of flavor as they caramelize, resulting in a delicious, jammy condiment that goes on everything.

Though caramelized onions are perhaps known best as a topping for burgers (and the aforementioned steak), I am a big believer in putting the gooey flavor bombs on everything from grilled pizzas and potato salad to crowd-pleasing dips that are great at a barbecue. If you ask me, there’s nothing that caramelized onions don’t improve, which is why I always keep a batch on hand. They store well in the fridge and can be reheated quickly in the microwave, allowing me to upgrade every summer meal in a matter of minutes. Next time you have an onion on hand, give this a try and see just how amazing your summer standbys can be.

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