Instructions: Heres a recipe for caramelizing onions in the microwave. Its a lot cleaner and easier than doing it on the stove. My Parsi friend keeps a supply on hand at all times - she adds a little butter or ghee to the oil, and just a pinch of cumin - to sprinkle on rice and plain boiled toor dal.

Heat the oil in an 8-inch microwave-safe skillet at 100 percent power in a 650-700 watt carousel oven for 2 minutes. Add onion slices and stir to coat them with oil. Cook at 100 percent power for 7 minutes (or until onions turn caramel brown), stirring twice. Watch carefully during the last 2 minutes of cooking as the onions, after losing their moisture, fry rapidly and can overbrown and burn. Remove from oven and drain on paper towels.

Reserve the excess onion-flavoured oil for other uses. Can be stored in a closed container at room temperature for two days, or in the fridge for up to a week.

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.