Onion
Who Am I?
- Botanical name/plant family: Allium cepa
- Great source of: Vitamin C and Manganese
- Harvest season: I am ready for harvest in the summer
Important growing practices: Buying organic is always a smart choice. However, conventionally grown onions should be safe to buy, as they are naturally fairly pest resistant and do not require much pesticide use.
How to care for me:
Keep me in a cool, dark, dry place, away from potatoes.
Flavor and Pairings:
I am well suited to be used raw on sandwiches and in salads, and add a crunchy zing. When I'm caramelized (cooked slowly for a long time until browned and sweet), I add a lovely flavor to pastas, sandwiches, quiche, salad dressing, and more. I am delicious sautéed, grilled, and baked as well. I am great with a wide variety of ingredients, including meats, cheeses, celery, chicory, mushrooms, curry, tropical fruits, honey, and cloves just to name a few.
Fun Facts:
The ancient Egyptians worshipped onions, because they believed that their spherical shape and layers symbolized eternity. There are even ancient onions that have been found buried in pharaohs' tombs!
In the Middle Ages, onions were accepted as a form of currency for paying rent and for goods and services (if only that were still true!)
