Caramelized Onion Tomato Jam

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We use our grill a ton in the summer, but sometimes grilling all the time can get boring.  This caramelized onion tomato jam, made with sweet summer Vidalia onions and farm-fresh tomatoes, is just the thing to jazz up ordinary summer entreés.  It is delicious on burgers, especially turkey burgers, but we also enjoy it on grilled pork chops, chicken, and salmon.  It also makes a unique and tasty bruschetta on slabs of grilled sourdough!  Honestly, this caramelized onion tomato jam is addictive on anything you put it on!  

What is caramelized onion tomato jam?  This version is meant to be used as a main or side dish condiment, chunkier than ketchup but not as sweet as barbeque sauce, with a sweet and tangy chutney-style flavor from the spices.  Some people add bacon to their tomato jam recipe, but this is just as delicious and definitely a healthier option. 

I first made it in the summer, but we love it all year, so if you do not have fresh summer tomatoes on hand, use Roma or hothouse tomatoes instead, just make sure to simmer it for a while, breaking up the tomatoes with your spoon as it simmers. Chunky is okay, whole chunks are not. 

Super easy to make, this jam is meant to be used fresh, not as a traditional canned jam, so this recipe does not contain canning instructions.  If you have leftovers you want to use later, place it in a sealed plastic container and freeze.  I often make a double batch and freeze several containers to take out of the freezer on a busy night.  

Another plus?  This recipe is vegetarian and can be made vegan if you use coconut sugar instead of honey.  

Caramelized Onion Tomato Jam

• 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• 1 Large Vidalia Onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1/3 c. Raw Honey
• 4 Tbsp. Aged Balsamic Vinegar
• 6-8 Fresh Plum Tomatoes, cut into small chunks
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Clove
• 1 tsp. Ground Curry

Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot on medium-low.  Add the onion chunks and simmer for about 5 minutes until the onion is opaque.

Stir in honey and balsamic vinegar and stir. Add the chopped tomatoes and spices. 

Add the chopped tomatoes,  cinnamon, clove, and curry, and continue to cook on medium-low, covered, for about two hours, stirring occasionally.  If the mixture still has a lot of liquid in it from the tomatoes, remove the cover and simmer for another half hour or so, stirring occasionally until thick.

Tasty Options for Caramelized Onion Tomato Jam

• Jazz up ordinary turkey burgers. Bonus?  Blue cheese complements this jam on burgers!
• Serve as a side with grilled salmon.
• As a topping for Slow Cooker Short Rib Sloppy Joes
• Serve with goat cheese on crostini
• Spread on brie and wrap in a puff pastry for a deliciously sweet and tangy baked brie.
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Other Tasty Things to Do With Tomato:

• Tomato Tart 
• Fried Green Tomato BLT Sandwich
• DIY Sun-Dried Tomatoes

(Note: This is an update to my original recipe from 2012 tweaked to be even healthier, using natural raw honey instead of brown sugar and olive oil instead of butter.)

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