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Drinks and Cocktails

Smoked Cocktail Onions

Homemade cocktail onions graced with a puff of alder or oak smoke. These smoked cocktail onions will make the perfect garnish for your next cocktail. Try it in a Gibson. 

 

More Smoked Cocktail Recipes:

 


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Smoked Cocktail Onions

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces fresh pearl onions (not frozen)
  • ¼ cup sherry vinegar
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ tablespoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ cup white sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon whole mustard seed
  • ¼ teaspoon celery seed
  • ½ teaspoon whole peppercorns
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary

Recipe Steps

1: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, then blanch the onions for one minute. Remove from the water and let cool. To remove the skins, trim the root ends & squeeze from the stem end to pop them out. Some may be reluctant – in that case, trim the stem end as well. Arrange in foil pan as a single layer and let dry thoroughly.

2: Set up your grill for indirect smoke, low heat, using alder or oak wood chips. Smoke the cocktail onions for approximately ten minutes, stirring a few times to ensure all surfaces get an even exposure to the smoke and a bit of caramelization. When finished, set aside while you prepare the brine.

3: In a saucepan, combine the sherry vinegar, apple cider vinegar, water, kosher salt, white sugar, whole mustard seed, celery seed, whole peppercorns, red pepper flakes, and fresh rosemary. 

4: Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar and salt dissolve. Discard the rosemary sprig and remove from heat.

5: Pack the smoked onions into an 8 oz airtight jar. Pour the hot brine and spices over the onions to cover. Let cool, then affix the lid and refrigerate. Will keep approximately three months.