The French have the fanciest techniques and an onion pique is one of them. Come learn how to make this simple flavor booster!
What is an Onion Pique?
An onion pique, or oignon piqué, literally means “pricked” or “studded” in French. It’s a peeled bulb with a bay leaf stuck to it by pinning whole cloves onto it.
It’s used to flavor milks, stocks, or cream. It adds a subtle aroma that’s a tad floral and herby – definitely a flavor enhancer that we love to use in the Umamiology kitchen. It adds depth and umami that everyone wants.
The coolest thing about this little flavor infuser is that it’s super easy to remove from whatever liquid you’re trying to flavor-enhance! So smart and convenient!
The Ingredients
- 1/4 small onion
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 whole cloves
How to Make an Onion Pique
Depending on how much onion you need, you can use a whole onion, or half. In our Bechamel Sauce Recipe, we use just a quarter of a small onion. No matter how much onion you use, the most important part is to peel the onion.
Then, you take 1 bay leaf, and secure it onto the onion with 2-3 whole cloves. Just poke it right in there to create the prick or stud! Basically, you attach the bay leaf to the onion by using the whole cloves thumbtacks.
You can then place this ultimate flavor booster into milk, or any other liquid you’re trying to umami-fy. Let the aromas infuse into the liquid by gently simmering. Voila! That’s it!
The Perfect Bechamel Sauce Recipe
We made a fancy Bechamel Sauce Recipe by simmering our milk with this flavor bomb. The verdict? It definitely adds a whole new level of taste that is simply irresistible!
Be sure to check it out!
If you liked this post, you’ll love these too:
FAQ
What is an onion pique?
An onion pique, or oignon piqué, is a peeled onion with a bay leaf stuck to it by pinning whole cloves onto it. Literally, it means “pricked onion” or “studded onion” in French.
What is an onion pique used for?
It’s used as a flavor infuser into milk, stock, cream, or other liquids in a dish. You simmer the onion pique in the liquid to allow for the flavors to come out.
Onion pique vs onion cloute?
An onion pique has a bay leaf pinned onto the onion by whole cloves, but an onion cloute is only studded with whole cloves without a bay leaf.
