Description
A simple and flavorful recipe for roasting a whole sweet onion with vegan butter, olive oil, and Cajun seasoning to create tender, caramelized layers perfect as a side dish or topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 large (15 ounce) sweet onion, peeled and ends trimmed off
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt (plus more to taste when serving each layer)
Optional Seasonings
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
Optional Garnish
- Finely diced parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare it for roasting the onion evenly and slowly.
- Season the onion. Use a small melon baller to scoop out the top center portion of the onion about one third of the way down, creating a small well. Place the onion on a sheet of aluminum foil and put the vegan butter into the well. Mix the Cajun seasoning, olive oil, salt, and any optional seasonings you like (garlic powder, Old Bay) together, then pour this mixture into the well over the butter, letting it drip down the sides of the onion for maximum flavor.
- Wrap the onion tightly. Seal the onion completely in the aluminum foil and place it in a small baking dish or cast iron skillet to catch any juices or oil that might seep out during roasting.
- Roast the onion. Place the wrapped onion on the center rack of the oven and roast for 1 hour. After roasting, carefully open the foil to check doneness—the onion should be fork tender, slightly caramelized, and the center will jiggle. If it’s not fully cooked, reseal the foil and roast for another 10 minutes before checking again.
- Optional broiling for caramelization. For a deeper caramelized flavor on top, turn the oven to broil. Open the foil and drizzle additional melted vegan butter or olive oil on top of the onion with a pinch of salt. Broil for 5 to 10 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning, until a golden brown crust forms.
- Serve warm. Peel away the outer layer and enjoy each tender onion layer underneath, seasoning with extra salt if desired. Pour all the flavorful juices collected in the foil over the onion before serving. This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, crispy chickpeas, or roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator once the onion has fully cooled to room temperature.
- Additional seasonings like garlic powder or Old Bay can be added to customize flavor.
- Use a small baking dish or cast iron skillet to catch any drips and keep your oven clean.
- Broiling step is optional but adds a nice caramelized finish.
Keywords: roasted onion, vegan side dish, caramelized onion, easy vegetable recipe, Cajun seasoning onion, baked onion