Onions here, onions there, onions seem to be everywhere! Bulb onions are among the laundry list of problem foods created for those with Interstitial Cystitis. However, onions have many layers beyond their appearance. They are sweet, tangy, and sharp, but they can also be rich, deep, and hearty. Even though you have Interstitial Cystitis, there may be hope yet that you can enjoy the depth of flavorful onions.
In their raw state, onions contain amino acid sulfoxides and when cut these acids are released into the air making a lot of us cry. When you digest bulb onions, amino acid sulfoxides irritate your bladder. Caramelizing onions reduces the presence of these amino acid sulfoxides and increases the sweet qualities making onions safer to eat. Now I am not saying that I have solved the onion crisis, but science has proved these facts are accurate. We are all aware that the severity of flares fluctuate from person too person, so you may or may not be able to enjoy caramelized onions.
Onions are listed on the try it list - developed by both the ICA and ICN - and if you follow the elimination diet I would encourage you to eat caramelized onions as an alternative to just sautéed onions. The probability for flares is greatly reduced, but like I stated before, still very real. If you have enjoyed onions in the past and miss them dearly, you can follow the recipe for caramelized onions found in my recipe section.
Caramelized onions create a large number of different flavors, adding depth and sweetness to many dishes. Therefore, I hope you unearth the ability to enjoy onions as they make their triumphant return to your dinner table.