Different onions are best suited for different purposes based on their flavor profiles and textures. Yellow onions are versatile and great for cooking, while red onions are often preferred for raw use or pickling. White onions are pungent and work well in salsas and chutneys, and shallots are mild and add a subtle flavor to dressings and sauces.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Yellow Onions: flavor: Strong, pungent, and somewhat sweet, but this mellows out when cooked. Best Uses: Versatile for many dishes, including stews, stocks, soups, and roasts.
Red Onions: Flavor: Mild, sweet, and often tangy, especially when raw. Best Uses: Excellent raw on salads, sandwiches, or as a garnish. Also great for pickling.
White Onions: Flavor: Pungent, sharp, and crisp. Best Uses: Perfect for salsas, chutneys, and dishes that benefit from a strong onion flavor, such as stir-fries.
Shallots: Flavor: Delicate, mild, and somewhat sweet. Best Uses: Ideal for sauces, dressings, and dishes where you want a subtle onion flavor without overpowering other ingredients.
Sweet Onions: (Like Vidalia) - Flavor: Mild, sweet, and less pungent than other onions. Best Uses: Great for eating raw on salads, burgers, or as a topping. Also good for grilling, pickling, and caramelizing.
Scallions: (Green Onions) - Flavor: Mild and slightly sweeter than other onions, especially the green tops. Best Uses: Used as a garnish for soups, salads, and Asian dishes. The white bulb can be used in cooking.
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Shallots actually are more like a cross between garlic and onions in flavor - though they seem more like a giant garlic in trying to deal with them. Personally we use sweet (ideally Vidalia when in season) in everything that requires onions. They have great nutritional value (all onions), so truly the only "wrong onion" is the one that isn't consumed.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I saved off your onion usage chart.
ReplyDeleteTattnall county Georgia produces more onions than any other county in the nation. They produce 55% of the Vidalia onion crop.
ReplyDeleteSo what in the hell is a Spanish onion and what's it good for?
ReplyDeleteJpaul
For the BEST taste use shallots in everything ... except chicken salad. Then use red onion.
ReplyDelete