How do you caramelize an onion?

To caramelize simply means to brown the onions. The natural sugars that are in onions come out when they're slow cooked over medium heat.

Methodology:

Choose large, firm cooking onions. The mild, yellow onions are the best flavored, but red onions have a milder or sweeter flavor. (However for the budget wise, red onions are more expensive). Peel, cut onions in half, then slice 3/8" thick half rings. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil per large onion in a frying pan. A wok really works well. A piece of onion dropped in oil should sizzle when oil is hot enough. Add onion slices and cook until they're a nice light brown color. Sprinkle with a small amount of salt, this will emphasize the sweet flavors of the onions. It will take about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir with a wooden paddle spoon scrapping the onion sugar off bottom of pan frequently. It is necessary to keep a close eye on the onions because they burn easy. Once onions are a caramel color add a teaspoon of water or stock while stirring, this will deglaze the bottom of the pan.