Fried shallots and onions

This is a topping for a variety of Vietnamese dishes, including banh bot loc and xoi bap, sticky rice with hominy and mung beans topped with toasted sesame seeds, sugar and fried shallots.

• 1 small or medium onion cut into quarters and then thinly sliced
• 4 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1 cup canola or vegetable oil

On a plate lined with a paper towel, lay out the sliced onions and shallots. Cook on high in the microwave for 3 minutes to dry them out a bit.  While they are cooking, heat up the oil in a small sauce pan over medium high heat.  Add the onions and shallots and turn the heat down to medium.  Fry until they are golden brown.  Remove and lay out on a few layers of paper towels to drain.  

Use the oil for cooking or to drizzle over things to add some great onion flavor, and then use the fried shallots and onions as a topping.