Roasted Balsamic Onion Salad

Caramelized onions with a tangy shallot, mustard, and red wine vinegar dressing.  The best salad I’ve ever had!

When it comes to food (or pretty much anything other than Philadelphia sports), my husband is a man of few words.  I generally have to prod him for his thoughts on dinner, and even then it’s typically summed up as “it’s fine” or “I’d eat it again”.  So when I made this salad, and my husband offered up that it was good without even needing to ask him his opinion, my mind was blown.  A salad coming in as “good” on the rating scale from a man who hums the “You don’t make friend with salad!” line from the Simpsons every time I try to make one for dinner, is pretty much the highest praise possible.  So, in summary, make this salad.  Immediately.  You won’t regret it.

Roasted Balsamic Onion Salad
adapted from Ina Garten
Ingredients:

• 3 red onions, sliced into half-moons
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 large shallots, minced
• 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 heads red leaf lettuce, washed and torn into pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. Toss onions with the balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the onions are tender and just starting to caramelize.
3. Remove the onions from the oven and collect any of the oil/balsamic mixture from the pan.
4. Whisk together the shallots, mustard, red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.  While whisking, add in 1/4 cup olive oil until emulsified.
5. Drizzle dressing over the lettuce and top with balsamic onions.

As a BzzAgent, sometimes I receive free things in the mail to review.  I made this salad using Filippo Berio Olive Oil, sent to me by BzzAgent.  I am under no obligation to post a favorable review, but I was pleased with the olive oil.  I am, by no means, an olive oil connoisseur, but the salad sure was delicious!