Caramelized Onion and Poppy Seed Hamantaschen Recipe (2024)

By Joan Nathan

Caramelized Onion and Poppy Seed Hamantaschen Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(226)
Notes
Read community notes

Traditionally filled with apricot, prune or poppy seed jam, triangular hamantaschen cookies are a prized treat for the Jewish holiday of Purim. This dessert serves as a reminder of the Jewish people’s deliverance from Haman, who sought to exterminate Persia’s Jews in the fifth century B.C. This recipe is fully savory, tucking crumbled feta under thyme-scented caramelized onions, but you could just as easily fill the buttery dough with sweet jam to please traditionalists. When forming hamantaschen pastries, make sure to leave an opening wide enough for the filling to be visible but small enough to retain moisture.

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Ingredients

Yield:About 36 hamantaschen

  • 2cups/255 grams unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1teaspoon baking powder
  • Kosher salt
  • 10tablespoons/140 grams cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1large egg, yolk and white separated
  • Ice water, as needed
  • 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1large onion, halved and very thinly sliced
  • 2fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1fresh or dried bay leaf
  • 1teaspoon honey
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 3ounces good-quality feta or goat cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (36 servings)

72 calories; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 7 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 2 grams protein; 49 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Caramelized Onion and Poppy Seed Hamantaschen Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add 9 tablespoons butter and pulse until coarse crumbs form. Add ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar and the egg yolk and pulse, adding 2 to 3 tablespoons or so of ice water if needed to form a soft dough. Wrap the dough in waxed paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate, about 30 minutes.

  2. Step

    2

    Meanwhile, heat the oil and the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a medium nonstick pan over medium-low. Add the onion, thyme, bay leaf and honey, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 20 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Stir in the poppy seeds and the remaining 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar and season to taste. Let cool.

  3. Step

    3

    Remove the dough from the fridge, heat the oven to 375 degrees and cover 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

  4. Step

    4

    Roll out the dough onto a floured surface until ⅛ inch thick. Using a 2½-inch round mold or glass, cut the dough into rounds. Top each round with a hefty pinch of cheese in the center, then a heaping teaspoon of the cooled onion mixture. Working with one round at a time, dip a pastry brush or your finger into the egg white and moisten the edges of the excess dough surrounding the filling. Fold up 3 sides of the round to form a triangle, partly covering the filling with the dough, and pinch the dough firmly at all 3 tips of the triangle. Transfer to the parchment-lined baking sheets and repeat to make about 36 hamantaschen.

  5. Step

    5

    Bake until golden, rotating midway through baking, 15 to 20 minutes, then serve warm.

Ratings

4

out of 5

226

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Hannah

Ate a few. Still alive.

Patty

Onion filling is great! No fresh thyme so made it with a little dried chopped thyme. I made half the hamantaschen with jam filling; also delicious. Problem dough recipe, though: Either too much flour or needing a whole lot more water. Even with double the water the dough was still crumbly. If making the full recipe, pull only half of the dough out of the fridge at a time because if it's too warm when the pastry goes into the oven, it looses its triangle shape.

Debbie

hi Judith- I can assume that the dough that was chilled 1 hour was just a bit too cold and expanded more as a reaction to the more extreme temp. change. The moisture that was captured in the dough had trouble escaping as it baked so it produced steam and puffed, causing the triangles to open. I'm sure your next batch will be perfect!

Sandy

I agree that this is delicious, but the dough is rather unforgiving. I went with the 3T ice water recommended and knew as I was putting it to chill it was not going to come together, still very crumbly. After chilling, I wet my hands and kneaded it a few short times to get more liquid in. That helped it, but it was still dry and miserable to roll out. It held the shape of the triangles very well and was very tasty, but hard to get 36 and wasn't fun to get there. Next time I'll try 4-5T water.

SJN

Will try this, under caution from others recommendations. Wouldn’t store bought puff pastry work as well or a pie dough? It wouldn’t be traditional, but less heart ache.

Anyad

These are delicious. I made the dough entirely by hand and didn’t have any trouble with it coming together, although I probably used around 6T of water. I also let the dough chill for about an hour and has no problems rolling it out. I also used dried thyme.

Mike

I made these and they were consumed quite quickly. People were quite surprised. Some did open. I think that brushing on the egg white did help keep most closed the way they are in the picture. I did add additional water. I also added a couple of ounces of cream cheese in place of some of the butter (like you do with rugelach) and added some baking soda in place of some of the baking powder. I didn't use a food processor (I don't have one).

Judith Goleman

I have a question for the experienced bakers preparing this delicious recipe. I did a test run rolling out a piece of dough from the disc in refrigerator, making two. They came out perfectly. An hour later, I made the rest of the batch for my guests. Most of these hamantaschen opened up like flowers during baking. I thought I pinched and sealed them all with egg white in exactly the same way as the testers. Any ideas about what went wrong?

Hannah

I made these last night and they are delicious. I got nowhere near 36 hamantashen out of it - I ended up with 18. I think adding more water as others noted would have allowed me to roll the dough out thinner (and more easily!), but I still have a hard time imagining that would double my output - my 18 do not really feel or taste too thick.

Elizabeth

I also found the dough was a bit difficult to bring together, so added an additional 1T of water (bringing the total to 4T) and that was enough. It was quite soft and crumbly at first, but I kneaded it a bit in a separate bowl and it came together fine.

S P

Followed others' suggestions and added 2 extra tablespoons of water to the dough. I only refrigerated for half an hour and all of the Hamantaschen opened up completely in the oven. Not sure what went wrong here, but would love some tips!

Hannah

I accidentally left these out on my counter top after baking (foolishly thinking of them as cookies). Are they safe to still eat after being out for 2 nights? I used goat cheese - not feta. Thanks!

Jennifer Larochelle

Read through comments before attempting. Used extra water in the dough (4Tbsp) which made for an easy to roll dough. Used a 3inch glass for cutting and made 24 with a second roll of the dough. Also used parmigiana cheese. They were delish and enjoyed by all at our annual February Beach Party. We live in New Hampshire! Will definitely make again

EG McGinnis

I may not have rolled the dough quite thin enough, but this made more like 24, not 36 pieces. Next time I will divide the dough into two, and leave one in the fridge while I work on the first batch, to both make it easier to roll to 1/8-inch, and to keep the remaining dough colder when I roll and cut it.

Debbie R

Delicious, but don't see how you get 36 cookies from this. I also ended up using more cheese than is specified.

Archdruid

Cheated: Used Just-Rol pre-rolled thin pizza dough from the dairy case. Perfect.and Delice de Bourgogne instead of feta.

Giovanna

These were delicious! I made half with goat cheese and half with feta and couldn't pick a favorite. Definitely requires more ice water than the recipe suggests and the egg is a must to keep the pinched corners from opening.

Joye

Much better dough to work with than the Chocolate recipe you have listed. And the onions carmelized with goat cheese and poppy seeds as a filling was glorious!

EG McGinnis

I may not have rolled the dough quite thin enough, but this made more like 24, not 36 pieces. Next time I will divide the dough into two, and leave one in the fridge while I work on the first batch, to both make it easier to roll to 1/8-inch, and to keep the remaining dough colder when I roll and cut it.

LB

I wonder if the dough really needs sugar when the filling is savoury. Has anyone tried it without ? This recipe sounds delicious; I'm going to make it today. I hope my triangles hold their shape.

Sachin

Delicious! I would recommend doubling the cheese and onions, as I only had enough filling for 17. I also had problems with them unfolding in the oven.

Cyrus

I just love these hamantaschen. Yes the dough is a bit tricky. I used 5.5 tbsps of water today, my third time making them here on a dry day in the Sierra Foothills. But it rolls out just fine, and if you squeeze the corners really firmly, only a few open up. The caramelized onion filling is delicious. I've used both goat, feta, and a combination of the two. Thank you Joan for this knockout dish; great as an hors d'oeuvre or light main course on Purim or any time of the year.

Ziri

Cooked this at the weekend with Blue cheese, very nice - highly recommended

Jennifer Larochelle

Read through comments before attempting. Used extra water in the dough (4Tbsp) which made for an easy to roll dough. Used a 3inch glass for cutting and made 24 with a second roll of the dough. Also used parmigiana cheese. They were delish and enjoyed by all at our annual February Beach Party. We live in New Hampshire! Will definitely make again

Lori Gardner

Can these be frozen?

Judy

Can these be frozen after baking and then reheated?

Matthew

I'm a bit annoyed that the ingredient list told me to cube 10 tablespoons of butter when only 9 were used.Editing note: in the ingredient list, say:10 tablespoons butter (9 cubed, for the dough; 1 reserved for the filling)1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar (1/2 tsp for the dough, 1 tsp reserved for the filling)

b

try 4-5T water

Cyrus

Savory hamantaschen. Genius. Easy to make, and so delicious. Served them at a dinner party as an hors d'oeuvre, and they disappeared.

Elizabeth

The dough is a bit finicky, but very much worthwhile. I’m sure the filling with other doughs (as some have asked) would also be very tasty, but this dough is definitely a highlight of this particular recipe. I made these for a party and all were devoured, some were photographed. Some of mine did open up during baking, but I think more diligent brushing and pinching would have done the trick (I was in a rush).

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Caramelized Onion and Poppy Seed Hamantaschen Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you caramelize onions with the lid on or off? ›

Yes, you should cover the onions when caramelizing them. Covering the onions helps to trap the steam and heat, which aids in the caramelization process by softening the onions and allowing them to release their natural sugars. This results in a sweet and flavorful caramelized onion.

What are the best onions for caramelizing? ›

You can caramelize any kind of onion, but yellow or Spanish onions tend to offer the most balanced-sweet-savory flavor profile and are the most versatile for different dishes. Sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla work too, but keep in mind that their flavor will become even sweeter once caramelized.

How long should you caramelize onions for? ›

Simply put, caramelized onions aren't quick. It takes at least 45 minutes (and often over an hour) over low heat for the natural sugars in the onions to caramelize. Still, the time is totally worth it. Packed with irresistible umami flavor, caramelized onions add complexity to all sorts of savory dishes.

How do you know when caramelized onions are done? ›

Caramelized onions should be far darker than golden in color. → Follow this tip: Cook times will vary depending on the number of onions you're cooking and the type of onion (its sugar content and age), but plan to cook caramelized onions for 40 to 50 minutes (at least) until they have a dark-brown, rich color.

Why add vinegar to caramelize onions? ›

Tip: use apple cider vinegar for white and yellow onions and balsamic vinegar for red onions. Tip: the vinegar serves to deglaze the pan, adds acidity, and brings this recipe together by boosting the tangy and savory flavors of the caramelized onions. If the onions stick to the pan, that's fine.

Should caramelized onions be thin or thick? ›

Thinly sliced onions will burn faster and stick to the bottom of your pan. Aim to slice your onions 1/8" thick—their heft will prevent them from drying out. You definitely want the flavor of butter in your onions—but butter has the tendency to burn.

Can you use a non stick pan to caramelize onions? ›

Peel and cut onions in half and then into ¼-inch slices. Place in a large shallow skillet with Teflon™ nonstick coating. Cover and sauté on medium-low heat for 8 minutes. Uncover and cook until the liquid reduces.

Do you add sugar to caramelize onions? ›

After 10 minutes, sprinkle some salt over the onions, and if you want, you can add some sugar to help with the caramelization process. (I add only about a teaspoon of sugar for 5 onions, you can add more.) One trick to keeping the onions from drying out as they cook is to add a little water to the pan.

What's the difference between caramelized onions and sauteed onions? ›

Sautéing vs caramelizing

Sautéing is about softening and lightly flavoring the onions, while caramelizing is about developing a rich, sweet complexity. Unfortunately, you can't swap one out for the other without changing the flavor profile of your dish.

Why are my caramelized onions soggy? ›

You may be cooking them on too high a heat, leading them to caramelize before all the liquid they release has evaporated. Try lowering the heat and giving them more time. Some onions are wetter than others, so you need to keep an eye on them and see how much liquid they release.

Why do you add baking soda to caramelize onions? ›

When you add baking soda during cooking it changes the pH which increases the Maillard reaction causing the onions to brown more quickly. The higher pH also causes the onions to soften more quickly, which we cover below when we discuss the texture.

How often should you stir caramelized onions? ›

Fold onions with a spatula, scraping bottom of pan to ensure they don't stick or scorch. Cook, stirring every 5 to 6 minutes and reducing heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, until liquid has evaporated, about 35 minutes.

Why are my caramelized onions not browning? ›

A few reasons could be that you sliced them too thick or too thin. You haven't cooked them long enough. Your heat isn't at the right temp, use between medium and medium-low. Adding too many onions at once can actually cause them to steam because of too much moisture, instead of caramelizing.

How do you caramelize onions without drying them out? ›

After 10 minutes, sprinkle some salt over the onions, and if you want, you can add some sugar to help with the caramelization process. (I add only about a teaspoon of sugar for 5 onions, you can add more.) One trick to keeping the onions from drying out as they cook is to add a little water to the pan.

How do you caramelize onions without burning them? ›

The key is to cook at a low heat for at least 20 minutes until the onions are really soft and form almost a thick stew of its own juices. Then turn up the heat and stir constantly for 20 more minutes until the onions are brown. If you try to heat the onions too quickly in the beginning, they will just burn.

Can I caramelize onions on high heat? ›

You're not sautéing your onions—you're trying to slowly coax flavor out of them. It takes time, probably a solid 45 minutes, for the onions' sugars to caramelize. If your heat is too high, the onions will burn. Heat your pan over medium-low, then add your onions.

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