Here are some dishes you can expect to go viral: Cheesy (Mac and cheese), decadent (Rogue), Moody (7UP Bundt Cake), and, of course, it’s such a weird name that you just have to try it (Swamp SoupThat’s why when something is so simple cucumber salad Or fried oats Takes the internet by storm, it takes us by surprise.
While 2024 has seen its fair share of unexpected culinary hits — we’re looking at you Sprite Gummy Bears-One ingredient in particular has been having a major moment: onions. A long-time cook and a humble person considered the head of the pantry. Onion has stepped into the culinary spotlight in a big way lately, wowing home cooks through TikTok-famous recipes.
Viral Star of 2024: Onion Boil
This autumn, boil onions Emerging as the “it” dish of the season. created by mimi bartellaThis recipe has very few ingredients and steps. In his now-viral video, Baratella sautees two peeled white onions in vegetable oil, various seasonings, and a dab of margarine, then pops them in an air fryer. After twenty-five minutes, the onions will soften and float in flavorful oil. To enjoy, you simply break apart the onion layers and dip them into the now boiling mixture.
Onions have long been one of Bartella’s favorite foods and her recipe was inspired by her family’s grilling traditions, along with boiling heavily spiced seafood in the South. “My family always grills onions, and I tell them to eat it as is. Since I didn’t have a grill at home, I thought an air fryer would probably be the easiest way and it actually turned out much better.
As she prepares her onions, Baratella tells the audience that her recipe is all about working with what you have. “You can season it however you like,” she assures viewers. “There’s no wrong or right way.” This sentiment has resonated with home cooks around the world. Videos of others taking on Baratella’s onion boil — trying to dip it in Cajun spices, Old Bay, and even brown sugar and cinnamon — have garnered millions of views on social media and debunked copycat recipes on the Internet. Has given.
power of onion
Onion-based dishes are not a new phenomenon – classic dishes like French onion soup, tennessee onion, onion ringsand prestigious blooming onion This ingredient has long been celebrated – but data confirms that interest in allium is on the rise. According to Whole Foods, the onion category has seen a 10% increase over the past 16 weeks, with sweet onions seeing the biggest jump of 27%.
“Onion sales have been really strong for us here over the last year,” says Travis Nordegren, the grocery store’s chief produce buyer. “This category has been one of my top performing categories that I manage ”
What’s really behind this new obsession with onions? The answer appears to lie in a combination of factors: their affordability, accessibility, and the comforting nature of trending dishes. Onions have always played a fundamental role in cooking – countless recipes begin with onions heated in oil, their aroma signaling the beginning of something delicious. while the onions were boiling Google’s eighth most searched recipe This year, it’s far from the only onion-forward recipe gaining popularity in 2024. Caramelized Onion Pasta, Iraqi DolmaAnd Julia Child’s Braised Pearl Onions Enjoying a moment in the spotlight.
Another Viral Onion: This Stuffed One
cook and cookbook author Danilo CortelliniWhose Stuffed Onion Dish TikTok, which has garnered 6.6 million views, sees the trend as a renewed appreciation for simplicity and resourcefulness. “In every restaurant I’ve worked at, there was always a recipe that used onions or shallots as the star, so it’s nothing new,” he said. “There’s always been an effort to champion ingredients that might be dismissed at first glance, but with a little more attention, you can make them really shine.”
His viral recipe is a perfect example of this. In his video, Cortellini provides enough intrigue to keep viewers captivated by a well-known ingredient used in a new way (“If onions were my last meal,” he declares). Their preparation requires filling onions with a creamy, flavorful mixture of cheese, egg yolks, and truffles. While the truffle adds an element of luxury, this recipe is based on everyday ingredients and simple cooking techniques.
This balancing act – creating recipes that are nostalgic, simple yet elevated – has been the hallmark of the onion’s renaissance. For Baratella, these dishes are about rediscovering the onion as a standalone ingredient rather than a supporting ingredient. “I think it’s an unusual vegetable that people don’t think about using in this way,” she says. “After coming across all these different recipes, people are like, ‘Oh my God, I completely forgot you could eat this by itself.'”
Whole Foods produce buyer Nordegren agrees that a good onion, one that is firm with no soft spots or sprouting, doesn’t need much to stand out. ,grill Sweet onions are fantastic,” he says. “Throwing them on the grill, putting nice wood on them, and having them with Kebab Or even just side dishes, they’re really, really, really delicious.
As food trends reflect cultural changes, onions are likely to remain in the headlines. Current movements like recession-core and underconsumption celebrate thrift, simplicity and making the most of affordable staples – qualities that onions perfectly encapsulate. As julia child It was once famously said, “It is difficult to imagine civilization without the onion.”
