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Georgia Girl Onion Bake- a viral Vidalia onion Casserole
Vidalia onions are sweet and tangy. And you can never go wrong with extra cheese! There is a reason that Tennessee Onion Casserole went viral, and it’s because Visalia onions are phenomenal. Georgia Girl Vidalia Onion Bake is my take on the famous dish. The heavy cream makes a delicious sauce in the bottom of the dish. The combinations of cheese gives a creamy, stretchy layer plus some tangy filling. And the spices blend beautifully with the sweet caramelization of the onions. You’ll love it, I promise! My kids devour this any time I make it!
Vidalia Onions are vital to this recipe! Their history is rich and flavorful, just like the onions themselves. Let’s take a look at what makes them so special! Vidalia onions were a happy accident when a farmer harvested onions that were sweet instead of sharp and tangy. The onions grew in the sandy soil of South Georgia and turned sweet. People loved them and paid top dollar, even through the Great Depression. During 20th century the onions were made famous with the help of the famous Piggly Wiggly grocery chain. The state of Georgia even got a federal law passed so that no other onions could be called Vidalia unless they’re grown in a specific area of South Georgia. Now, what makes them so special? Sugar! With a sugar content of 12%, Vidalia onions are just delectable. It kind of reminds me of the onions in the movie “Holes”- so delicious that you could eat them straight out of a jar like dessert. Anyway, the area of South Georgia where Visalia’s are grown has very low sulphur in the soil. Sulphur is what makes other onions have such a sharp bite. So without sulphur, Visalia’s can’t get tangy. Vidalia’s are at their peak flavor from April through August. So, if you want the most flavorful casserole or if you want to eat seasonally, this recipe is the perfect summertime side dish. Some other ways us southerners use Vidalia onions include: -caramelized onions for steaks, sandwiches, and more -Pair with steak, pork chops, or grilled fish – sweet onion sandwiches
Ingredients to make Georgia Girl Onion Bake- a viral Vidalia onion Casserole
- 6 Vidalia Onions
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- 2 Tbs Paprika
- 1 Tbs Sage
- 1 Tbs Salt
- 1/2 Tbs Pepper
- 1 Cup Gouda Cheese
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 Cup Edam Cheese (or another soft creamy cheese)
How to Make Your Georgia Girl Onion Bake- a viral Vidalia onion Casserole
Slice the Vidalia Onions into Rings
First, slice each end off the onions. Cut off the stem side. Then, cut off the root side.
Slice the first, outer layer of the onion with the tip of your knife. Peel that outer layer off the entire onion. Next, turn the onion onto its side. Very carefully slice the onion into rings, about 1/4 inch thick. Don’t let the onion roll around.
Layer the Onion Into Your Casserole Dish
Listen. I live in a camper with 7 people. I don’t have the space for a lot of beautiful kitchenware. So, I use foil pans, even when I’m photographing a recipe. But you can use a beautiful baking dish for yours!
Grate all of your cheeses. You can mix them together, or leave them separate on your cutting board to take pretty pictures. Who doesn’t love a photo of cheese?!
First, pour the heavy cream into the bottom the pan. Sprinkle a bit of each seasoning over the cream. Then layer your onions flat across the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the seasonings on your onions.
Next, sprinkle a bit of each type of shredded cheese over the onions. Guess what’s next? Yep, sprinkle the seasonings over the cheese. We’re going to season EVERY layer in this casserole.
Repeat the whole process. I usually only do 2 layers, but you can totally do more. It’s your Vidalia Onion Casserole. There aren’t any Visalia onion police that will come and check.
Bake your Vidalia Onion Casserole at 375º for about an hour. You want the cheese to be bubbly. Give it plenty of time to let the onions caramelize a bit. That’s the flavor.
Variations and Add-ins
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if there are any other options for this recipe. You might switch out the sage for another herbs that you enjoy. I imagine thyme or rosemary would be interesting. You could add garlic or mushrooms, but I promise, they aren’t necessary. Part of the beauty of this recipe is that it’s simple.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if there are any other options for this recipe. You might switch out the sage for another herbs that you enjoy. I imagine thyme or rosemary would be interesting. You could add garlic or mushrooms, but I promise, they aren’t necessary. Part of the beauty of this recipe is that it’s simple.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if there are any other options for this recipe. You might switch out the sage for another herbs that you enjoy. I imagine thyme or rosemary would be interesting. You could add garlic or mushrooms, but I promise, they aren’t necessary. Part of the beauty of this recipe is that it’s simple.
Substitutions
Substitute heavy cream for butter- it will do the same thing. DO NOT substitute other onions. You could add a bit of other onions but make sure you have VIDALIA onions in this Georgia Girl Casserole.
Tips to help when you’re making Georgia Girl Onion Bake- a viral Vidalia onion Casserole
- Use whatever cheeses you like best for your Vidalia Onion Casserole. Pick your favorites. Use a combination of hard and soft, tangy and creamy, smoky and sweet. I think an extra sharp cheddar would be amazing. A smoked Gouda would add depth.
- Grate your cheese fresh. Trust me, it will melt better!
- Buy real Vidalia onions.
- Use whatever cheeses you like best for your Vidalia Onion Casserole. Pick your favorites. Use a combination of hard and soft, tangy and creamy, smoky and sweet. I think an extra sharp cheddar would be amazing. A smoked Gouda would add depth.
- Grate your cheese fresh. Trust me, it will melt better!
- Buy real Vidalia onions.
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How to store Georgia Girl Onion Bake- a viral Vidalia onion Casserole
Truly, you won’t need to store this because it will get eaten so quickly. But, just in case, you can cover it foil and refrigerate it for a week or so. You could also prep this ahead of time, cover with foil, and refrigerate it before baking. Overnight or even a few days worth of refrigeration would really bring out the flavors. But it might also make your cheese a bit soggy.
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Viral Georgia Girl Onion Bake- Tennessee Onions
Equipment
- 1 Casserole Dish
Ingredients
- 6 Vidalia onions
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- 2 Tbs Paprika
- 1 Tbs Sage
- 1 Tbs Salt
- 1 bs pepper
- 1 Cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup gouda cheese
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Edam cheese
Instructions
- Grate all of your cheeses. You can mix them all in a bowl or leave them separate.
- Peel your onions. Slice them into 1/4" layers int eh shape of a ring. Don't separate the layers.
- Pour the heavy cream into the bottom of your dish. Sprinkle a bit of each seasoning into the cream.
- Then, layer the onions into bottom of the dish. Lay the onions flat and cover the bottom of the dish.
- Next,sprinkle more seasoning and cheese over the layer of onions. Add more seasoning to the cheese layer too.
- Repeat the layers until you've used all the onions and cheese. Be sure to cover then top with cheese.
- Bake at 375º for about an hour, or until the cheese is bubbly.