Christmas onion-couscous 'baubles'

Stuffed with a couscous, speck, thyme and pecorino filling, these baked onions make a wonderful side for a Christmas feast.

Christmas onion-couscous baubles. Credit: Everyday Gourmet Christmas Special

• serves

  8

• prep

  15 minutes

• cook

  1 hour

• difficulty

  Mid

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Everyday Gourmet Christmas 2019

program • 

Holiday • 

2018

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program • 

Holiday • 

2018

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Ingredients

• 8 medium-sized red onions
• 100 g speck, rind removed and finely chopped
• ½ cup instant couscous
• 1 cup boiling wate
• 1 tbsp capers, finely chopped
• 3 sprigs thyme, leaves picked and finely chopped
• ½ cup ricotta
• 3 tbsp grated pecorino
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Wrap each onion (skin and all), in foil and place on a baking tray. Bake for 30-40 minutes until just tender.
3. Remove from foil. Carefully use a sharp knife to slice the top off each onion and set the tops aside. Use a melon baller, a teaspoon or your fingers to scoop a few layers of the onion out of the cavity. Ensure you leave about a 1½ cm boarder of onion. Reserve ¼ cup the scooped out onion and finely chop.
4. Place speck in a cool pan over medium heat; allow the fat to render and the speck to fry until golden and crispy. Drain off any excess oil and set aside.
5. In a large bowl pour 1 cup of boiling water over couscous. Cover with cling film and leave to absorb the water for 5 minutes. Once the couscous is cooked use a fork to separate the grains. Add capers, thyme, pecorino, reserved roasted onion and speck and season with salt and pepper.
6. Fill the onions with the couscous mixture and place on a baking tray or in a baking dish, with the reserved onion lids on top. Drizzle olive oil over the onions and bake in the oven at 180°C for 20-30 minutes.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Stream free On Demand

Everyday Gourmet Christmas 2019

program • 

Holiday • 

2018

G

program • 

Holiday • 

2018

G