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A super-special hot dog garnished with barbeque sauce, mustard, mayonnaise, dill pickles, pickled jalapeños, Onion Crunch and Old Bay seasoning. Photo courtesy Loeb’s Onion Crunch. |
| WHAT IT IS: A condiment of crispy fried onion bits. |
| WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: There’s nothing quite like it in the U.S.—and the time has come to have Onion Crunch everywhere! |
WHY WE LOVE IT: It adds a gourmet touch to just about everything, with very few calories. |
| WHERE TO BUY IT: Available at retailers nationwide (store locator) and online. |
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Three of the four flavors and hummus with a sprinkling of Onion Crunch. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.
Above, Onion Crunch garnishes green beans; below, a green salad. Photography courtesy Loeb’s Onion Crunch.
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Loeb’s Onion Crunch: A Crunchy Garnish For Just About Anything
Living in Scandinavia as a child, Nick Loeb enjoyed crisp, crunchy fried onion bits on his hot dog—a condiment that really doesn’t exist in the U.S.* but is as popular a hot dog topping there as sauerkraut is here.
He rediscovered the onion bits during trips to Sweden as a young adult and became perplexed by the lack of similar products in the United States.
As a result, Loeb launched his own brand of Onion Crunch in 2011 and began marketing it in the United States. Within a year, the brand was in more than 7,000 stores; and is now more than triple that. If you haven’t come across it yet, you’re in for a big treat. It’s like having onion rings (or roasted onions) all the time, for far fewer calories (because you can be satisfied with a tablespoon or two).
With a crispy, crunchy burst of roasted onion flavor, Onion Crunch delivers innovation to a condiment category dominantly composed of liquids and sauces. Unlike existing products in the category, Original Onion Crunch is kosher, pareve, and vegan and can be used to liven up any meal occasion. This versatility is quickly making it a staple in many restaurants, grocery stores and retailers.
Uses For Onion Crunch
Onion Crunch adds pizzazz to just about any savory food. Here’s our starter list:
- Baked potatoes and mashed potatoes and cauliflower
- Breading/crust for fish and pork chops and fish fillets (delicious with everything from halibut to salmon)
- Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches
- Casseroles of any type, but especially green bean casserole
- Cocktail rimmer (Bloody Mary, Martini)
- Dips, including hummus
- Salads
- Soups
- Pasta, pizza, mac and cheese
- Vegetables—grilled, roasted, sautéed,
steamed
- Yogurt and cottage cheese
- Garnish for just about anything, from chili and tacos to meat loaf, steam and stir frys
The Onion Crunch website has plenty of recipes, if you can refrain from snorting those crispy bits right from the jar.
Onion Crunch is a seemingly down-home ingredient that adds a gourmet touch whenever it‘s used. We predict that when top chefs get wind of it, they’ll making their own to garnish their plates (or, they can get away with using actual Gourmet Crunch).
 A gourmet touch: filet mignon garnished with a dab of mashed potatoes and Onion Crunch. Photo courtesy Loeb’s Onion Crunch.
Onion Crunch Flavors & Nutrition
At just 40 calories for two tablespoons, Onion Crunch topping is made from 100% real onions plus seasonings; there’s no added sugar. It’s is naturally low in carbs, low in sodium, cholesterol- and trans fat-free, OU kosher (parve) and vegan. The recipe does contain wheat flour.
There are four flavors, each delicious, lightly fried in high-quality vegetable oil:
- Bacon Flavor Onion Crunch
- BBQ Flavor Onion Crunch
- Chipotle Flavor Onion Crunch (mild enough for people who don’t like heavy spice)
- Original Roasted Onion Crunch
All the flavors demand to be tasted. Look for them in the condiment aisle. Learn more at OnionCrunch.com. Check the store locator or head to Amazon.com.
Warning: Avoid the smaller, 6-ounce size; you’ll finish it in a day. Instead, buy multipacks of the 12-ounce shaker.
If Onion Crunch hasn’t hit your area yet, give it as favors at Mother’s Day or Father’s Day celebrations. The 12-ounce size retails for about $5.99, although prices will vary.
— Karen Hochman
*With all due respect to French’s French Fried Onions and its fans, the similarity to Loeb’s Onion Crunch is analogous to spongy, supermarket white bread and the finest baguette. In other words, people who enjoy one would probably not enjoy the other.
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