Fried Apples 'n' Onions

Halcyon Eve's Note:

From Wilder's 'Farmer Boy'; originally made with bacon drippings, but changed to use butter or margarine. I'd think a sweet-tart cooking apples, such as Jonagold, Gravenstein, or even the tart Granny Smith, would be best for this recipe.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 6 medium onions, sliced and separated into rings
• 2 tablespoons butter (or use bacon drippings for more authentic flavor)
• 6 medium red apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges (use a more tart variety of apple, such as Fuji)
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onions in butter for 3-5 minutes.
2. Add apples and top with brown sugar. Cover and cook 15-20 minutes or until apples are tender.

Reviews

[Chef VP]

The original recipe had the baking times reversed. The onions should caramelize, which takes 15-20 minutes, at least. Most baking apples will turn to mush, if they are left to steam for 15 minutes. When reversed, the recipe is quite good. My sons (2 and 7) were delighted to find the apples were sour, and the onions were sweet (I used yellow onions and Granny Smith apples. Though this would go great with German food (it's very similar to several German dishes), I've served it with Moroccan Chicken and similar dishes that are heavy on the spices (not necessarily the heat), when you want something sweet and sour to give you a break from the complex flavors.

[cyclopsgirl]

I used Chef VP's tip and switched the cooking times--longer on the onions, less on the apples. I also added a couple pieces of cooked chopped bacon the last few minutes for some additional flavor. Turned out well!

[Ameliahead]

I didn't love this recipe as much as I thought I would, but my parents sure did. I used Pink Lady apples; I'm not sure if another variety would be better in this recipe (maybe that was what I didn't like). I used butter, not bacon grease.