Tennessee Onions

Ingredients

• 3 lb sweet onions (peeled and thinly sliced to 1/4 inch)
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 2 tsp brown sugar (light or dark)
• 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp fresh thyme (leaves only)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (good quality)
• 4 oz mild cheddar cheese (freshly grated, divided)
• 4 oz gruyère cheese (freshly grated, divided)
• 0.5 cup pecorino romano cheese (freshly grated)
• 3 tbsp butter (cut into small pieces)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Peel the sweet onions and slice them evenly with a mandoline to a thickness of approximately 1/4 inch. Separate the rings by hand in a large bowl.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, prepare the spice rub by combining the salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, dry mustard, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and fresh thyme leaves.

4. 4

   Drizzle a couple of tablespoons of olive oil over the onions and toss to coat well.

5. 5

   Sprinkle half of the spice mix over the onions and toss by hand. Add the other half of the spices and toss again until all onions are evenly seasoned.

6. 6

   Place half of the seasoned onions in the bottom of the prepared dish, forming an even layer.

7. 7

   Spread 2 ounces of grated cheddar cheese and 2 ounces of grated Gruyère cheese over the first layer of onions.

8. 8

   Add the rest of the onions on top of the cheese layer.

9. 9

   Top with the remaining 2 ounces of cheddar cheese and the remaining 2 ounces of Gruyère cheese.

10. 10

    Sprinkle the half cup of grated Pecorino Romano cheese evenly over the top.

11. 11

    Dot the top of the cheese with the pieces of butter.

12. 12

    Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.

13. 13

    Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven for another 30 minutes, or until the onions are soft and the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Notes

It is essential to slice the onions evenly and thinly so they melt and become silky instead of crunchy. You can substitute the Pecorino Romano with Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano if preferred.

Nutrition per serving

• side dish
• onions
• cheese
• baked
• comfort food
• vegetarian