John Myers
Onions are not just onions. In addition to the onion, there are the vegetable onion, the white and the red onion, the shallot, the silver onion, the pearl onion, and the spring onion. They all have a specific character and are used on different occasions in the kitchen. Depending on the aroma and degree of spiciness, they give food a depth of flavor or a strong flavor.
The typical yellow onion is probably the most common type of onion. It is cultivated particularly frequently in this country, has a golden yellow to brownish skin, and can be quite spicy in taste. Accordingly, it is particularly suitable for consumption when cooked. It gives hearty dishes such as meat or hearty sauces a strong aroma.
The vegetable onion has a slightly milder and sweeter taste and is therefore also suitable raw in dishes, for example in a salad. It has drier skin than the onion and is larger than other varieties. That’s why it’s also very easy to fill, for example with minced meat or diced vegetables.
White onions are particularly common in southern Europe but are more of a specialty in this country. They taste very fine and mild. Red onions, on the other hand, tend to be slightly sweet and mild. They give salads and other cold dishes a slightly softer taste than the vegetable onion. They also go well in marinades or on sandwiches. The shallot tastes a little milder. Due to its fine and noble aroma, it is used particularly in high-end cuisine, either raw or cooked.
Silver onions are particularly small with a diameter of 15 to 30 millimeters. They are often braised fresh and used as a side dish. Pickled onions are often used as a component of pickled preserves. Pearl onions are also found in cans. They are very similar to leeks and, like silver onions, are often used fresh for stewing.
Finally, spring onions are visually reminiscent of leeks, which is why they are also called spring onions. They taste a bit hotter than leeks and are smaller. Spring onions can be used raw as well as fried in stir-fries, for example, where they play an important role in Asian cuisine.
