Skip to content
FriendsPantry
Onion

Vegetables · Alliums

Onion

Everyday bulb with papery brown, yellow or white skin; the aromatic base of countless dishes.

Also called: onions, yellow onion, brown onion, white onion, pyaz, pyaaz, soğan, cebolla

Around the world: pyaz, प्याज़ (hi) · soğan (tr) · cebolla (es) · oignon (fr)

1079 recipes with it

Photo: Colin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

The common onion is a layered bulb with dry papery skin and crisp, pungent flesh. Brown and yellow onions are the all-purpose cooking types; white onions are sharper and crisper; red onions are milder and used raw. Shallots are smaller and sweeter, and spring onions are harvested young with green tops.

Allium cepa

How it’s used

  • Sweated or browned as the base of curries, stews and sauces
  • Caramelised slowly for soups and toppings
  • Fried crisp (birista) for biryani
  • Sliced raw into salads and salsas
  • Blended into curry pastes

Characteristics

Taste
Sharp and pungent raw; sweet and savoury when cooked.
Aroma
Sulphurous and eye-watering when cut; mellow and sweet when cooked.
Texture
Crisp and juicy raw; soft and silky cooked.
When cooked
Softens and turns translucent over medium heat, then browns and caramelises with time; releases water first, so crowding the pan slows browning.
Sold as
fresh, dried, powder, frozen
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Usually eaten raw, Suitable for frying, Suitable for grilling, Mainly a seasoning

Varieties

  • Brown / yellow
  • White
  • Red
  • Sweet (Vidalia, Walla Walla)
  • Pearl / pickling onions

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep whole onions in a cool, dry, airy place away from potatoes. Wrap cut onion and refrigerate, using within a few days.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Onions are toxic to dogs and cats; keep scraps away from pets.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
40 kcal
Protein
1.1 g
Carbohydrate
9.34 g
Fat
0.1 g
Fibre
1.7 g
Sugars
4.24 g

USDA FoodData Central: Onions, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Shallot — Works anywhere; use a little more and expect a sweeter, gentler taste.
  • Leek — Good in soups and braises; milder and softer.

Related ingredients

Recipes with onion

See all 1079

1067 more

More alliums