Onions are in almost every recipe in the kitchen with the exception of sweets. We use them to flavor meats, soups, stews, vegetables, salads and more. Green onions are great just to put on a relish plate and eat along with a sandwich. If you go to the grocery store you will usually see baskets of different onions. There are white, purple, several types of yellow, and the immature green onions. You can pretty much use them interchangeably in recipes but some are more suited for certain dishes than others.
Onions you grow and harvest in your own garden taste the best, but the ones in the grocery store or vegetable stand are pretty good as well.
White onions are the more pungent of the onion family. You can use them raw on burgers or cut them up to be used in salsa. They can be used in any recipe that requires cooked onions just be aware that the flavor will be strong.
Yellow onions also have a strong flavor unless you get sweet yellow onions. Regular yellow onions can be cooked or eaten raw. Sautéing at low heat will bring out a more mellow flavor.
Red or Purple onions are mild in flavor and are good in salads but can be in other recipes cooked or raw.
Green Onions are immature onions and are good in any recipe either cooked or raw. Their flavor is not as strong as a bulb onion’s flavor.
Do onions make you cry when you cut them? Probably, and that is because the cell walls release propanethial-S-oxide, a sulfur compound, and it floats in the air. When it comes in contact with water it converts to sulfuric acid which is what stings your eyes. If you chill the onion before cutting it (do not freeze) the propanethial-S-oxide can’t float and it can’t make you cry.
Now, how do you get the smell of onions off your hands? If you have a real silver spoon just rub your hands over the dry spoon. It will take the smell away. If you don’t have a silver spoon rub hands with lemon juice or vinegar.
This Onion pie is really good as a side dish with a beef or pork roast. Try to use sweet onions; either Vidalia when they are in season or Texas Sweet Onions available most times of the year.
Onion Pie
Ingredients
- 3 cups onions, peeled and sliced
- 2-1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 pound cottage cheese
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 – 9 inch prepared pie crust, uncooked
Directions:
- In a frying pan over medium heat sauté onions in butter until they become soft. Remove from heat.
- In a bowl combine cottage cheese with cream, salt, pepper and cayenne.
- Pour cottage cheese mixture into prepared, uncooked pie crust and top with onions.
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let sit for about 8 minutes before cutting and serving with dinner.
Try this Onion Stratta for brunch or breakfast. A strata is made from bread, cheese, eggs and some type of meat. It kind of resembles a crunchy quiche and is very rich and luscious.
Onion Stratta
Ingredients:
- 5 cups crusty bread that has been cubed
- ½ cup butter
- 3 large sweet onions, cut in thin slices
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ¼ teaspoon savory
- 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Half and Half
- 3 eggs, beaten
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray a 1-1/2 quart casserole with non stick spray.
- Place bread cubes in casserole.
- In a skillet over medium heat melt the butter.
- Add onions and cook until translucent.
- Pour butter and onions over the bread.
- Sprinkle with thyme and savory then sprinkle cheese over the top.
- In a small bowl combine eggs with half and half until frothy.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Pour over mixture in casserole.
- Press down to make sure bread gets wet.
- Bake 45 minutes or until top is brown and a knife comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
- Let cool about 8 minutes, cut in squares, and serve.
Use onions in your everyday cooking. Then lend flavor that can’t be beat and without them dinner would just be bland.
Deborah Harding - Deborah Harding has developed recipes, worked with herbs and written home school curriculum for over 20 years.
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