My Uncle Adrian gave me this recipe after he’d spent the summer with his cousins in my Grandmother’s home village, which is nestled in the foothills of the Alps near Biella in Northern Italy.These... stuffed onions are usually part of an antipasto tray, but they also make a great side for a holiday meal. Uncle made the stuffing without parsley, but I think it adds great flavor.
Boil the onions whole for 10-12 minutes or until the outside layers have just softened. Drain and let cool slightly.
In a bowl, thoroughly soak the cubed bread in the milk. If the bread seems dry, add more milk, a spoonful at a time. Mash into a thick paste. Set aside.
Cut the onions in half horizontally through the middle, and pull out the centers, leaving 6 onion cups about 2-3 layers thick. Finely chop the onions centers. Pat the onion cups dry and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion centers with a pinch of salt until they are translucent and beginning to caramelize, about 5-8 minutes.
Transfer the onions to the bowl with the mashed bread mixture. Add the Parmesan, parsley, raisins, pine nuts, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add a touch more milk if the stuffing seems dry.
Stuff each onion cup with the bread mixture. Sprinkle the tops with a little extra Parmesan and transfer to a baking try. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until well browned on top. Serve.
Chef Tips
For extra sweetness, try making this dish with Vidalia onions instead of Spanish onions.
If you want to make these onions as a starter, keep it small. Buy 6 small yellow onions and proceed with the recipe as directed.
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