These onions make an amazing side dish for any kind of meat dish, from grilled steaks to roasted pork and veal.

• 6 medium red onions (each about 1/2 pound)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon minced shallots
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

2. Peel the onions. Trim the root ends so they will stand upright, and remove 1/2 inch from the tops. Rub 1 1/4 teaspoons of the oil over each onion and season with 1/8 teaspoon of the salt and a pinch of the pepper. Place on the baking sheet and roast until tender and caramelized around the edges, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Leave the oven on.

3. When the onions are cool enough to handle, push out the centers, leaving a shell. Return a piece of the center to each to form a bottom. Chop the remaining centers.

4. In a bowl, combine the mascarpone, thyme, garlic, shallots, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and mix until blended. Stuff the onions in the baking dish with the cheese mixture.

5. Bake until the onions are warmed through and the cheese has melted completely, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to serving plates. Place 1 thyme sprig in the center of each onion, and serve immediately, with a spoonful of the onion pieces alongside.