Spring onions are a great way to add a fresh taste to many dishes! It’s a versatile vegetable, but what parts of spring onions can you eat?
You can eat the leaves(green part) and bulbs(white part) of spring onions! Both parts of the vegetable will have different flavors. You can also use the green part as a garnish or the main ingredient in a dish!
So you can eat the green part of spring onions. But what’s the best way to prepare them? How does the green part taste? Read on to find out!
What Is A Spring Onion?
Springs onions are young white onions. While they may look similar to scallions, they actually have very different flavor profiles. Spring onions typically have a more intense flavor and a larger bulb. However, their bulbs aren’t as large as adult white onions.
Parts of a Spring Onion
Spring onions have three parts:
- Leaves: the green parts
- Bulb: the white part
- Roots: the long skinny hairs at the bottom
The most commonly used parts are the bulbs and leaves. The roots are cut off and discarded as they don’t add much flavor. Dirt can also cling to the roots and make the food taste bad. Yuck!
How To Use Spring Onions
What part you use from the spring onion is determined by what outcome you want to get at the end! Different parts of the onion will have more pungent flavors or respond differently to cooking, so keep that in mind.
The Leaves
The leaves can be used in a variety of ways. The first is as a garnish on top of a completed dish. You can slice them up very finely and then sprinkle them on top. They can add a pleasant aroma to your dishes, like sesame seeds or parsley.
You can also add the leaves to your dish while it’s cooking. This is often done with soups or omelets to provide just a hint of onion to the food. You can also puree them or add them to a vinaigrette. The possibilities are endless!
The Bulb
This part is tiny on spring onions, but it’s very important! When cutting the roots off, make sure you preserve as much of the bulb as possible. It holds a lot of flavor! You can slice them very thin and use them on top of a salad.
You can also sautee the bulb just like a normal onion or garlic. The bulb adds a depth of flavor to many sauces and broths. They’re a fantastic way to add that fresh onion flavor without using a lot of onion. But be careful. These little bulbs can pack a punch! A little goes a long way!
Are Spring Onions The Same As Green Onions?
No, spring onions and green onions are not the same. Green onions are basically scallions. They have very little of the bulb developed, so most of their flavor is in their leaves. Spring onions have been allowed to mature longer and develop more of a bulb.
Can Spring Onions Be The Main Ingredient?
Yes! You can absolutely make spring onions the main feature of your dish. One way to prepare them is by cutting them in half and grilling them. Grilling adds a little bit of smokiness to that fresh onion flavor! You can then serve them as a side, like grilled asparagus or eggplant.
How To Store Spring Onions
Spring onions don’t last as long as other onions, so you must store them properly. You can’t store them in your pantry like white or yellow onions. They must stay refrigerated. If stored in a perforated bag in your fridge they can last around four to five days.
How To Make Spring Onions Last Longer
What if you bought spring onions but aren’t able to use them before they go bad? Don’t worry! If you haven’t cut the roots off, you can replant them! That way, they can continue to grow and stay fresh. Then, when you’re ready to use them, just pull them out of the soil!
Conclusion
Spring onions are a staple for any chef. They have a lot of flavors in a tiny package. Plus, since most of the plant is edible, they create very little food waste. Don’t count this small vegetable out when cooking your next dish!
