Vidalia Onion Pie Recipe
A Southern Recipe Featuring Sweet Vidalia Onions
Pick up a bag of delicous Vidalia onions and make a lovely onion pie.
Everyone gets excited when the Vidalia onions come in. Roadside stands put out signs. Home town folks and tourists alike stop and buy big bags of huge sweet onions.
It wasn't always this way. When Mose Coleman first discovered that his onions were sweet instead of hot in 1931, he had a hard time selling the unusual onions. He did manage to sell 50 pound bags for $3.50 each.
Coleman's onions really took off when the town of Vidalia hosted a Farmer's Market, and that's where the name came from. There's a silly country song about Vidalia and "don't make me cry," but Vidalia is not a woman. It's a town. You can visit Vidalia, Georgia and see the Vidalia Onion Museum.
In 1990, the Vidalia onion was named the state vegetable of Georgia. Only 20 counties are authorized to grow and sell Vidalias.
Some people think that all onions taste alike. They've obviously never had Vidalias.
Vidalia onions have a delicate onion flavor and are sweet rather than sharp. They are mild enough to eat like apples or sliced on bread for sandwiches. And, they're really delicious French fried. As a plus, they are low in calories (only 60 in a medium onion), high in Vitamin C and fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free.
A favorite recipe made with vidalia onions is Vidalia Onion Pie. The crisp cracker crust and rich filling makes this a special side dish or even the center piece of the meal served with fresh tomatoes and green beans.
Vidalia Onion Pie
- 1 cup soda cracker crumbs
- 5 TBS melted butter
- 2 1/2 cups thinly sliced vidalia onions
- 2 TBS vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup grated cheese
Directions:
- Mix cracker crumbs with butter. Put in the bottom of a pie pan. Mash up the sides to form a pie crust.
- Bake the cracker crust for 8 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove pie from oven and make filling.
- Saute vidalia onions in oil and place in partially baked pie crust.
- Beat the milk and eggs and pour over the vidalia onions.
- Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Bake for 45 minutes - again at 350 degrees F.
While you're enjoying the bounty of summer, try out these other favorite Southern recipes:
Yellow Squash Casserole - This yummy casserole can also be made with zucchini squash.
Seven Layer Salad - This is a traditional Southern pot luck dish.
Carolina Cornbread Salad - If you've never tried a cornbread salad, then be sure to give it a try. It's fabulous.
Zucchini Pancakes - Less expensive than frying meat, zucchini works great for patties.
