Transform Your Meals With These 25 Onion Recipes

Whether you have a surplus of onions from your garden or want to explore creative ways to use this flavorful bulb, these recipes can inspire and elevate your cooking. Onions have long been a cornerstone of diverse cuisines worldwide, from Indian cooking to Mediterranean cuisine, contributing to their unique savory depth. From classic comfort foods, like tomato risotto and vegetable lentil soup, to contemporary delights like Greek chickpea salad and smashed cucumber salad. Each recipe is designed to help you make the most of your onion surplus or explore new dimensions of this kitchen staple. Let the aroma of onions sizzling in a pan or roasting in the oven awaken your senses as you explore the meal possibilities that await you.

1. Caramelized onions

With their rich, sweet flavor and golden–brown perfection, caramelized onions can elevate mujadara, burgers, pasta, hummus, and soups to a gourmet experience. These onions also add a sweet touch to appetizers and side dishes, such as focaccia bread, bruschetta, and crostini, turning simple dishes into satisfying accompaniments.

2. Quick pickled onions

Turn surplus onions into a zesty condiment for soups, chili, and cucumber salad with these quick–pickled red onions. With just minutes of preparation, this versatile and vibrant garnish breathes new life into excess onions, ensuring nothing goes to waste in the kitchen.

3. Soffritto

Soffritto is a culinary cornerstone that transforms humble onions into a flavorful foundation for countless dishes. This aromatic blend of finely diced onions, carrots, and celery herbs is gently sautéed, releasing a symphony of rich notes that elevate the taste of soups, stews, and sauces. A well-crafted soffritto is the secret weapon in the culinary arsenal, infusing depth and character to a wide array of Mediterranean dishes. Red onions are packed with antioxidants and vitamins, lending a nutritional boost, making this colorful salad a guilt–free delight for taste buds and well-being.

5. Hummus without tahini

This simple and versatile hummus recipe shows you how to make a creamy and tasty dip with simple ingredients like olive oil, onion, garlic, and rosemary. Cook the chickpeas with white onion, garlic, and rosemary for a few minutes before blending them for the most delicious hummus recipe without tahini.

6. Guacamole

Guacamole is easy to make. It consists of mashed avocado, lime juice, cilantro, onion, lime juice, and salt. It’s a nutritious and delicious dip you can enjoy with tortilla chips, salads, bowls, wraps, or as a spread on toast and sandwiches.

7. Mujadara

Elevate the classic mujadara with the sumptuous addition of caramelized onions and the freshness of spring onions. The sweet, golden notes of caramelized onions infuse a rich complexity, while the tender green spring onions impart a delightful crunch. This dynamic duo enhances the flavor profile and transforms mujadara into a vegetarian dinner that celebrates the harmony of textures and tastes. Top it with thick Greek-style yogurt or non-dairy yogurt and quick pickled red onions for extra flavor

9. Shirazi salad

Shirazi salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish with crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant white onion seasoned with cooling dried mint and fresh lime juice.

10. Sautèed zucchini

You can sauté zucchini and onions on a pan for 10 minutes and add them to pasta, risotto, or frittata, or you can use them as a topping on pizza. Pairing red onions with zucchini creates a dynamic medley in which the crunch of the red onions complements the zucchini’s mild, tender notes.

11. Lentil curry

In a lentil curry, the subtle spice of white onions becomes the aromatic cornerstone, infusing the dish with depth and savory richness. Sautéed to golden perfection, the white onions meld into the lentil and coconut blend, imparting a savory undertone that enhances the overall flavor profile. Crispy green bell pepper, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber, zesty red onion, flavor-packed kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese or non-dairy feta.

13. Dill potato salad

Red onions in a creamy dill potato salad add a zesty kick, infusing each bite with a delightful crunch and a hint of piquancy. The vibrant red onions enhance the visual appeal, and their sweet yet tangy notes create a perfect balance for a refreshing and satisfying side dish.

14. Avocado salad

Creamy avocado, ripe and juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, tangy red onion, and fresh parsley meld perfectly to create a tasty, nutritious, and fulfilling summer salad. Red onions elevate this avocado salad with a vibrant crunch, adding a zesty and savory dimension to this creamy and nutritious dish.

15. Braised red cabbage

This red cabbage recipe has apple, onion, garlic, vinegar, and a touch of cinnamon to create a tender, sweet, slightly sour, and tangy, aromatic dish. We sauté and brown the red onion with olive oil to create a solid flavor base that will enrich the braised cabbage. You can substitute white or yellow onion for the red onion. The onions’ crisp texture and mildly spicy flavor harmonize with the earthy notes of jarred artichokes and fruity cherry tomatoes. It’s an excellent side salad and appetizer idea during artichoke season.

17. Creamy pasta salad

You will love this creamy pasta salad because it combines creamy (mayo), chewy (pasta), and crisp texture (veggies) with sweet (corn and bell pepper), zesty (lemon), and tangy flavors (pickles and onions). It’s excellent as a quick and nutritious vegetarian meal and a great way to incorporate more veggies.

18. Lentil vegetable soup

Onions create a rustic and rich flavor base in this one–pot lentil vegetable soup. The flavor base of onion, garlic, carrot, and celery combined with oregano and canned tomatoes makes this soup so flavorful that you won’t believe there’s no meat or dairy.

19. Horiatiki

Horiatiki salad is tasty, refreshing, and easy to make. It consists of ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, tangy red onions, crisp bell peppers, meaty olives, and creamy feta cheese. The red onions contribute a zesty kick and a vibrant pop of color, complementing the crisp freshness of cucumber and juicy tomatoes. Tomato risotto is the perfect recipe for a heartwarming and creamy family dinner. It exemplifies the rustic charm and simple elegance of authentic Italian home cooking.

21. Pumpkin curry

Pumpkin curry combines tender pumpkin pieces with nutty chickpeas and a rich, creamy, aromatic tomato and coconut-based sauce. You can use white or yellow onion for this curry recipe. Onion adds sweetness as it cooks with the oil, and it’s essential in the flavor base of pumpkin curry.

22. Marinara sauce

You can make authentic Italian marinara sauce with simple ingredients such as canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, herbs, and olive oil in less than 30 minutes. Onion is optional in marinara sauce, but we recommend it to add extra sweetness and flavor.

23. Lentil chili

In this one-pot vegetarian curry, ingredients like lentils, black beans, onions, peppers, and tomatoes meld with aromatic spices. It’s a high–protein vegetarian dinner idea with robust and comforting flavors.

24. Vegan frittata

Indulge in a delightful vegan frittata featuring a harmonious blend of sautéed zucchini and red onion. This plant-based twist on the classic dish boasts a golden, protein-rich texture and a burst of flavors that elevate your breakfast or brunch experience.

25. Tomato cucumber onion salad

You’ll love this salad recipe because it’s colorful, easy to make, and packed with vibrant flavors and nutrition. The cool crunch of the cucumber paired with juicy tomatoes, aromatic fresh herbs, and tangy red onion makes this dish your best ally during scorching hot summer days.

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Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients. Easy right? Comment * Name Email Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me when Louise or Nico reply to my comment.

Δ Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.