Onions are a staple food in every household. But they come in so many variants; Red, White, Yellow, mars, moon and what not. It is so confusing to choose the correct one for the dish you are making.
All you need to know is the flavour profile of onion to suit your dishes. If you have ever wondered about it this is the perfect guide on what all types of Onion exist and how to use them in food.
Alliums (in short onion family, using scientific name because that makes me sound cool) are staple in my house and almost every other house except my Jain friend. Whether they’re tucked into Bhajiya(Onion Fritters) or caramelized and pureed into korma or the lovely Rajasthani Pyaz ki Sabzi, different types of onions can add immense flavor to any dish. Choosing the right one for whatever you’re cooking will help you achieve the best (and most delicious) results. Here’s a simple guide to understanding what each type of onion has to offer.
By the way do you know about the History of Onions in India? You should learn about it its one of the most amazing and important event in Indian foodscape.
Coming back to topic.
Shallots
Alternate Name: Sambhar Pyaz, Gray Shallots, Red Shallots
Profile: Shallots have a mild onion flavor. These bulb-shaped alliums taste like a garlic-onion hybrid. In French cooking, shallots are used in vinaigrettes and sauces, as well as on top of steak. When a recipe calls for a shallot and you don’t have one, you can likely substitute another type of onion for it.
Good for: Sambhar, Sauces and dressings, Pickling(the red onions you get in Indian restaurants), Fried Shallots etc
White Onions
Profile: This onion is named for the color of its thin skin and flesh. With a taste that's more tangy than sweet or sour. You can find White Onions in salads and traditionally in Mexican cuisine. Their slightly sweet taste adds to fresh salsa, ceviche and tacos. They’re also commonly served up in barbecue establishments with a plate of meat, pickle and sides.
White onions can be strong but they tend to have less aftertaste.
Good for: Mexican dishes and grilling, Caramelised Onions
Yellow Onion
Profile: This onion is relatively mild but not as much as sweet onions. Round, with a thin, brownish, papery skin. These onions can come in yellow, red or white.
Good For: Caramelisation and Any recipe that calls for Onion. Indian food
Sweet Onion
Alternate Names: Fresh onion, spring onion, summer onion
Profile: These onions are sweet because they have a lower concentration of sulfur allowing the sugar content to stand out. People who like onions but dislike the strong taste, will find sweet onions a good alternative. Some people even consume them raw, like ripe fruit (ever heard stories in which farmers use to eat onion with Roti or Rice with a smashed onion, this variety was most commonly used for it.)
Good For: Salads, relishes, garnishes
Red Onion
Alternate name: Purple onion
Profile: The bright reddish-purple skin makes this onion hard to miss; it's a favorite ingredient in salads. To many palates, red onions have the sharpest flavor in the family, so use uncooked red onions sparingly. To soften the taste, chill raw onions in ice water for 20 minutes before serving.
Good for: Salads, grilling and pickling
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