Deli basketful crossword

Onion rolls belong in every deli. They taste savory and feel soft under a crisp shell. You split one for a sandwich or set one beside hot soup - either way it works. The baker must brown the onions slowly until they turn sweet plus dark, but stop before the taste grows harsh. The dough needs steady kneading and one long, warm rise so the crumb stays light but also chewy. Small bakeries guard their own blends of spice and tweak their methods to give customers a roll they remember. People care about the roll for reasons beyond flavor. The smell of baked bread mixed with fried onion brings back childhood trips to the corner deli. A warm roll dotted with onion stands for quiet afternoons as well as family habits that did not change. The crossword calls the onion roll a deli favorite and the clue stays true. Eat it plain or as part of a plate - the roll still carries you back to the busy shop where a good bite waits just past the door.