5 Days of Veggies: Onions

It's Day 2 of our 5 Days of Veggies series and today's veggie is everyone's eyewatering fave - onions! A great addition to numerous dishes, onions pack a punch of flavor. Check out our tips and recipes below!

• There are quite a few different types of onions. Here are some common ones:
  
  • Yellow onions: These are the most common. You can use them in pretty much any dish that calls for onions. They are especially good for French onion soup because they caramelize well. You can store yellow onions longer than other onions, so buy in bulk and stock up!
  
  
  • White onions: Have a strong taste and are common in Mexican cuisine. They lend a sweet and sour flavor to other ingredients in recipes.
  
  
  • Red onions: Have a mild to sweet flavor. They are best raw (such as in salads) or lightly cooked with other foods. When fully cooked they tend to lose some color and flavor.
  
  
  • Green onions: Harvested while their shoots are still young and green, these are great for topping salads, soups, and baked potatoes. You can typically use green onions and scallions interchangeably in recipes, though they are technically two different varieties of green onions.


• Selection: Onions should be clean, have crisp, dry outer skins, and the neck should be closed. Steer clear of an onion that has started to sprout.


• Storage: Store at room temperature. They're best if they're well-ventilated so use a wire hanging basket or just a regular basket that allows air to circulate.


• Slicing: A large percentage of the population gets watery eyes when cutting onions. To help lessen the effect, you can chill the onion in the fridge for 10-30 minutes before slicing. You can also run under cold water, though it's not as effective.


• Health benefits: Can help lower your blood sugar, lower your risk of heart disease risk, reduce your risk of developing colon cancer, and boost bone health.


• Fun tip: If you get bitten by a mosquito, rub a half-onion on the bite to help reduce swelling and irritation. You'll smell like onions but you'll show those mosquitos! Plus, onions act as an insect repellent so hopefully it'll be the last bite you get all evening.

French Onion Soup

Blue Cheese Iceberg Wedge Salad

Taco Dip

Miss a post? Catch up for the week:
Monday: Corn
Tuesday: Onions (above)
Wednesday: Eggplant
Thursday: Avocado
Friday: Tomatoes

Like our 5 Days of Veggies series? Then check out our 5 Days of Fruit series too!