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Love layers
Onions, the pantry staple that can make a meal
Onions are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in history, dating back at least 5,000 years. Low in calories but packed with vitamins and important nutrients, onions were used by the ancient Greeks to fortify athletes before the Olympics. In Egypt, onions were worshipped as a symbol of eternity and were buried with pharaohs.
These days, onion worship is rooted in the kitchen. In fact, onions play such a pivotal role in cooking that a pantry without them is considered incomplete.
Members of the genus Allium and related to shallots, leeks and garlic, onions are a key flavoring in many dishes. Different onion varieties work best for different applications.
The all-purpose yellow onion is also the most sulfurous, causing cooks to tear up when the onion is cut. Boldly assertive when raw, yellow onions sweeten as they cook. Use them in soups and stews, or for sautéing, grilling or roasting. They are also delicious caramelized or poached.
Red onions have a bold, peppery flavor. They are great pickled or grilled or used where you want a hint of color, such as in sandwiches, burgers, wraps or salads. Long simmering can render their color dull and unappealing, so is best avoided.
White onions have a fresh mild taste that increases in pungency as they age. Use them for stuffing and baking, or in raw dishes like potato salad, as well as ceviche and salsas.
Less common are Walla Walla onions, Peruvian onions and Vidalia onions. They are less astringent and significantly sweeter than other varieties. Delicious raw in relishes or salads or as garnishes, they also make fabulous onion rings and onion jam.
To reduce tearing up, chill onions 30 minutes before cutting and always use a sharp knife. To minimize the pungency of raw onions, cut them and soak them in ice water, refrigerated, for at least 90 minutes.
Unpeeled onions should be kept in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place and never stored in plastic. Cut onions should be refrigerated and will keep for up to 10 days in a well-sealed storage container.
Whole or sliced, onions are indispensable to have on hand!
West Coast author Laura Langston has a weakness for onion rings and onion jam.
Costco Connection: You’ll find yellow onions and sweet onions, such as Peruvian onions, at Costco warehouses. Groceries are available for delivery through Costco Grocery at Costco.com
