Sweet onions are best for the barbecue.
A barbecue can turn a strong, dense onion into a sweet, smoky treat. You can barbecue whole onions or thick onion slices like steaks. The best onions for barbecuing are sweet onions including Walla Walla and Vidalia varieties. Use your own mixture of spices and marinades to develop unique flavors with your onions and use charcoal whenever possible to increase the smoky flavor that infuses this dynamic vegetable.
Instructions
Whole Onion
1. Prepare your gas or charcoal grill for direct heat at medium-high temperature.
2. Peel your onions and use a sharp knife to cut a crosshatch into the top of the onion that extends down 1/3 of the onion.
3. Pull gently on the onion to reveal the inside, and insert a small amount of butter or oil into the middle of the onion, followed by any spices, fresh herbs or barbecue sauces you want to add.
4. Wrap the onion in foil and place, crosshatch side up, on the surface of your grill.
5. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes and check the onion for doneness. Depending on the size of your onion and your desired texture, you may have to cook it for an additional 10 minutes.
Onion Steaks
6. Preheat your gas or charcoal barbecue for direct heat, at a medium-high temperature.
7. Prepare a mixture of 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 tbsp. of melted butter in one bowl and a marinade mixture of your choice in another bowl. Bon Appetite magazine recommends 1/4 cup of Dijon and honey in addition to 1 tbsp. of fresh savory seasoning and dash of Worcestershire. You can substitute for your own favorite barbecue sauce or grilling seasonings.
8. Peel and cut your sweet onions into 1/2-inch thick slices along the horizontal, resulting in slices that display the onion's layers in concentric circles.
9. Insert two metal or soaked bamboo skewers about 1 inch apart through the onion slices. Using the skewers keeps the the onion's rings together and makes it easier to flip them when cooking.
10. Brush the onion slices with the oil and butter mixture and place on the grill, reapplying more oil and butter and turning the onions frequently for approximately 10 minutes.
11. Apply your favorite marinade to the onions once they are charred and cook for an additional 2 minutes per side.
Tags: onion slices, additional minutes, cook additional, cook additional minutes, direct heat, direct heat medium-high, heat medium-high
