Green onions, also known as scallions or spring onions, are vegetables that belong to the Allium family, which includes onions, garlic, and shallots. They have a mild, fresh onion taste with a subtle hint of sweetness. They are very versatile and can be sautéed, grilled, or eaten raw.
Green onions offer a range of health benefits that make them a valuable addition to your diet. Green onions are a good source of dietary fibre, which promotes healthy digestion. They also possess antibacterial properties that can help prevent infections and promote a healthy immune system.
Here are some ways you can use them:
Use as a topper for dishes, works especially well in Asian cuisine.
Add to salads
Stir-fry them
Bake them into biscuits.
Cooking With Green onions
Green onions can be eaten either raw or cooked. Raw green onions taste moderately spicy and clean, while cooked green onions are milder and can have some sweetness. Choose how to eat them based on what flavours you like best. A good tip when preparing green onions is to take care not to squish the stalks when you cut them, as they are very easily bruised. The best way to do this is to line them up before cutting.
Did you know you can regrow scallions by placing them in water? Here's a quick step-by-step to make sure they grow healthy and long:
When cutting your onions, leave about 1-2 inches of white bulbs with the roots still intact.
Clean the bulbs and roots gently under running water to remove excess dirt.
Put the bulbs root down in a small cup with a little water.
Leave the cup near a window with a light source to promote growth.
Refresh the water every 2 to 3 days.
It's not necessary, but you can replant them to regrow in soil after about 1 week. Planting them may allow the green onions to grow thicker because there are more nutrients in the soil.
If you have an excess of green onions, a good way to use them is to make scallion oil or green onion oil. It's a staple in Chinese cuisine and can be used in many ways to add a subtle onion flavour to your dishes. here's a great recipe for that!
Storing Tips
Before storing, wash and dry your green onions, then separate the bulbs from the greens. The greens tend to spoil faster, so storing them separately can help prolong their freshness.
Wrap in damp paper towels: Take a damp paper towel and wrap it loosely around the green onions. This helps maintain some moisture and prevents them from drying out.
Store in a plastic bag: Place the wrapped green onions in a plastic bag and seal it loosely. The bag will help contain moisture and keep the onions fresh. Store it in the refrigerator's crisper drawer and use it within a week.
Freezing it: If you have an excess of green onions, you can chop them up and freeze them for future use. Place the chopped onions in a sealed freezer bag or airtight container, and they can last for several months.
Happy Cooking!
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