Name: Baked bacon and spinach-stuffed blooming onions
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Accompaniment
Ingredients: 4 onions large; 6 streaky bacon strips, finely chopped; 500 ml spinach shredded; 10 ml garlic cloves, finely chopped; 45 ml mascarpone cheese or cream cheese; 15 ml butter soft; 1.25 ml salt; freshly ground black pepper pinch; 125 ml cheddar cheese finely grated; feta cheese crumbled, to serve; micro greens to serve

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Ingredients (11)

4	onions — large
6	streaky bacon — strips, finely chopped
500 ml	spinach — shredded
10 ml	garlic — cloves, finely chopped
45 ml	mascarpone cheese — or cream cheese
15 ml	butter — soft
1.25 ml	salt
	freshly ground black pepper — pinch
125 ml	cheddar cheese — finely grated
	feta cheese — crumbled, to serve
	micro greens — to serve

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Method:

Preheat the oven to 220°C.

Bring a pot of water to the boil. Cut off the pointy bits of each onion and peel them. Keep the base in tact. Boil for 10 minutes. Rinse under cold water and dry them with a clean dishtowel.

Carefully cut the top into quarters but stop just before you get to the base. Cut it into quarters again. Place each onion on a piece of foil that is big enough to cover it completely.

For the filling heat a pan over medium heat until hot. Add the oil and chopped bacon. Fry for 5 minutes. Add in the spinach and garlic and fry for another 2-3 minutes. Add the mixture to a food processor together with the mascarpone or cream cheese, butter, salt and pepper. Blend until fine. Stir in the cheddar cheese.

Stuff as much of the filling into the onions and make sure you get it in between the layers. Pile any remaining filling on top and close each onion up with the foil. Make sure it is completely covered or add a second layer of foil if you prefer.

Bake for 30 minutes until tender. Top with crumbled feta and micro herbs, if you prefer.

Tip:
Treat the baked onions like you would do baked potatoes. After cooking, if you want to make them even more decadent, you can top them off with sour cream, chopped herbs and spring onions.

Tip:
You could also cook the foil-wrapped onions over warm coals. Just makes sure you give them a double wrapping of foil and ensure that you turn them frequently.

Recipe reprinted with permission of Illanique van Aswegen.

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