With fall right around the corner and kids back in school, this NYT recipe echoes the warmth of a classic French onion soup ready in a fraction of the time with a lighter touch. Caramelizing the onions in a hot, dry pan unlocks their sweetness and transforms them into a silky delight in just 30 minutes. Enjoy this comforting family meal straight from the pan with crusty bread to soak up the savory broth, or shred the chicken and toss it with buttered noodles for a heartier option. To add a pop of green, stir in some spinach at the end or pair with a simple green salad or roasted broccoli.
INGREDIENTS:
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3-inch pieces
- 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
- ¾ pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
- ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley or dill leaves and fine stems, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan or pecorino (optional)
- Bread or cooked pasta, for serving
DIRECTIONS:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, the honey, mustard, red-pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt; whisk until smooth. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper, then add to the mixture, coating it well. Set aside at room temperature, stirring it once while you make the onions.
- Heat a 12-inch cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium-high until very hot, 1½ to 2 minutes, then add the onions in an even layer. Season with salt, then cook, mostly undisturbed, for 4 minutes more, stirring every minute or so. Add the mushrooms, season with salt, and stir to combine. (It will look crowded, and that’s OK.) Allow to cook mostly undisturbed until the mushrooms shrink and start to brown, about 4 minutes, stirring every minute or so.
- Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and allow the onions to cook until they start to color, stirring and lowering the heat as necessary to avoid burning, about 2 minutes. Push the onions and mushrooms to the edges of the skillet, then add the chicken pieces to the center. Pour any remaining marinade (there will be very little) over the onions and mushrooms. Cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes, then combine the chicken and vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes more. (Reduce the heat to medium if the onions look like they are burning at any point.)
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of sherry vinegar, stirring and scraping up anything on the bottom of the skillet. Season to taste with salt.
- Remove from the heat and top with the parsley and cheese, if using. Serve with bread or pasta.