Onion

Common Name

The distinct taste and smell of onions are familiar around the world and play a prominent role in almost every cuisine. Dried onion is considered a spice but it is actually finely chopped dried vegetable with very concentrated flavors.

The onion is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables and has been flavor-enhancing cooked and raw foods for at least 5,000 years. Researchers have dated traces of onion to the Bronze Age, and onions have been unearthed in ancient Chinese gardens.

In ancient Egypt, onions were objects of worship and together with garlic were fed to the workers who built the great pyramids. To the Egyptians, the circular structure of the onion represented immortality so onions were often buried alongside pharaohs or painted on the walls of the pyramids. Onions were a significant and symbolic part of Egyptian funeral offerings and in hieroglyphics were depicted in the hands of high priests.

Athletes in ancient Greece were fed large amounts of onions and garlic before competition. Roman gladiators rubbed their bodies with onions to give the illusion of firmer muscles. In Greece and Rome, onions were also used as a culinary spice.

Christopher Columbus introduced onions to the New World in the 15th century, where they gained popularity rapidly amongst the natives. By the Middle Ages, onions were propogated across Europe and were so coveted they were accepted as a form of currency. Onions were enjoyed by both rich and poor as culinary ingredients and to treat maladies like headaches and hair loss.

The name onion derives from the Latin unio, meaning 'one,' most likely because each onion is a single bulb. A member of the lily family, onions come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Onions can be white, red or purple and should be firm with tight flaky skin.

Some onion are milder or sweeter tasting than others, but most have a strong, pungent aroma. Onions taste hot, bitter and slightly sweet. The sweetness becomes more pronounced with cooking and natural sugars mean that onions carmelize beautifully.

Purported Medicinal Qualities*

Onions are a vegetable and so-called spice rich in nutrients and health benefits. Onions are said to have positive effects on the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, bones and blood sugar. They are high in anti-oxidants and may even prevent some types of cancer. Use topically they may help prevent/treat acne, hemorrhoids, boils, and other skin irritations.

Historically, onions have been used to:

• Lower 'bad' cholesterol
• Elevate 'good' cholesterol
• As an antiseptic
• Reduce inflammation
• Reduce bacterial growth
• As a diuretic
• Inhibit tumor growth
• Maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporisis
• Lower blood sugar
• Relive common cold symptoms
• Prevent diabetes
• Prevent gastric ulcers
• As a source of vitamin C, potassium and fiber.

*Always check with your healthcare provider before consuming, inhaling or otherwise ingesting any non-prescription or prescription natural or homeopathic substance or pharmaceutical. ChefatHand.com is not recommending, suggesting, inferring or otherwise endorsing the use of any herb or spice as a medication.

Culinary/Suggested Use

Onions are one of the most prevalent vegetables/spices in cuisines across the world. Rarely used as a main dish, onions often play the sidekick adding a distinct flavour to many meals, without dominating. Onions complement almost every savory dish and can be used in practically every way, cooked, raw, chopped, minced, pulverized, etc. Raw onions have a much stronger, more pungent taste than cooked ones, which are somewhat sweet. Onions should be firm and stored at room temperature.  Food for thought:

• add onions to any curry
• add raw onions to marinades, soups, stocks, etc
• sautee or caramelize onions for a sweeter less pungent taste
• add sautéed onions to any vegetable dish
• stud a whole onion with cloves and add to stock
• add chopped onions to salsa, guacamole, and other dips
• add chopped raw onions to homemade hamburgers and ground beef
• serve raw onions and capers with cheese and crackers as an appetizer

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