Tasty & Frugal Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipe: Onion Pie

Preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for a group can be a challenge - even more so when you have vegetarians on your guest list and aren't accustomed to preparing vegetarian recipes. Don't waste your money on expensive tofu-turkey substitutes when you can offer a dish that not only will appeal all on it's own, but also won't cause you to blow your Thanksgiving dinner budget. This recipe for Onion Pie is delicious, frugal, and filling enough be considered the 'main entree' for your Thanksgiving vegetarian guests.

This has been a Thanksgiving staple at my family's Thanksgiving dinner for almost 10 years. I first brought it when I had been asked to make a vegetarian friendly side dish, since two new family members were vegetarians. I was pressed for cash that year, so I needed to make something that was simple and frugal - and Onion Pie was born. It proved to be so popular with both the vegetarian and non-vegetarians alike that I now must bring two Onion Pies (at Thanksgiving and Christmas, too) to make sure there is enough for everyone.

Some of you may be turned off by the name Onion Pie, but rest assured the flavor is full yet mild. It is basically a quiche with a top crust, which allows you to decorate it to add some Thanksgiving specific appeals. You can cut leaves out of additional pie crust or (my most popular design) fashion an onion on the top crust using a 'rope' of your leftover pie crust. Don't worry if you don't have the creative know-how or wherewithal to make a decorative top - the Onion Pie stands out enough as the delicious vegetarian dish it is to get rave reviews at your Thanksgiving dinner.

Onion Pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

You will need:

2 lbs. yellow onions, peeled and sliced VERY thin

4 tablespoons of butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

pie crust for a 2 crust pie (I just buy packaged pie crust) - make sure your pie crust does not have lard in it so your onion pie remains vegetarian friendly.

prepare pie crust according to pie crust directions (usually just involves leaving it out to soften, about 30 minutes).

Saute your sliced onions with the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat until they are translucent and soft, but before they start to brown.

Mix the eggs and milk together thoroughly.

Put your bottom crust in a 9 inch pie pan, and fill the crust with the onions, spreading evenly.

Pour the milk and egg mixture over the onions.

Spread the shredded cheese on top evenly.

place your top crust over the pie, crimping the edges to seal and venting the top.

Bake for 45-50 minutes; let cool 15 minutes before serving. Can also be cooled and reheated or served cold (but in my opinion, it's best when warm).

This delicious vegetarian Onion Pie recipe will have even your declared onion haters fighting over the last piece. Enjoy!