Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchens

Ingredients:

3 medium onions, 2 left in their skins and 1 peeled
1 cup plus 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tbs. white wine vinegar
2 tsp. kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Hot sauce, as needed
2 scallions (white and green), minced

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

In a roasting pan, rub the two onions in their skins with the 2 tablespoons oil. Bake until squishy soft, turning them once, about 45 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. Peel the onions and set aside.

Finely dice the remaining onion and preheat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 cup oil and heat until hot. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they just begin to lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 18 minutes more. Strain the onions through a sieve over a bowl. Transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined plate and spread them into a single layer. Reserve 1/4 cup of the onion oil and let it cool completely. (Reserve the remaining oil for dressings or marinades.)

Purée the roasted onions in a food processor. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar and salt, and pulse until smooth. While the motor is running, drizzle in the 1/4 cup of reserved onion oil until incorporated. Season with pepper and hot sauce, to taste. Transfer the onion dip to a serving bowl and stir in the scallion. Refrigerate until very thick, about 3 hours or overnight.

When ready to serve, top with the fried onions.

Yield: about 4 cups

For variety, serve this traditional dip alongside Curry Dip on a vegetable Crudité Platter.