Green onions are a very common vegetable in most countries. It is also called scallions or spring onions and is a part of the Allium genus, which belongs to the Liliaceae family.
The green onion or scallion is not just for aesthetics but also has a very important function in cooking. It is used as both a fresh and dried herb. It can be used in soups, salads, stir-fries, noodles, and other dishes that require vegetables.
But since green onions add color and beauty to any dish, you must know how to cut green onions properly!
This article will teach you how to cut green onions and more about this plant.
Before you learn how to cut green onions, what is this bulb?
Green onions are a type of onion with green color. They have a mild flavor and are ideal as an ingredient in cooking or salads.
Here are some facts about scallions.
- Green onions are one of the onion family, which includes other common vegetables like shallots and garlic.
- The chlorophyll in green onions comes from the leaves, which contain carotenoids, a type of plant pigment that provides chlorophyll with food.
- The leaf veins also contain phytohemagglutinin (PHA), encouraging touch-sensitive cells to grow on leaves and branches.
- The flowers of green onions produce nectar that attracts bees, pollinating them during their blooming season.
Green onions also have several nutritional benefits, such as the following.
1. Vitamin A
Green onions have high amounts of vitamin A, essential for maintaining good vision and preventing degenerative eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.
2. Vitamin C
This nutrient helps to maintain collagen, a protein that gives your skin strength and elasticity and can help reduce wrinkles.
3. Beta Carotene
Like most other vegetables, green onions contain beta carotene, which is converted in your body into vitamin A after you consume it. This means that eating green onions will boost your intake of this important nutrient over time!
4. Fibers
Green onions contain dietary fiber, which can help keep you feeling fuller longer between meals and reduce your risk for certain types of cancer by lowering cholesterol levels in your bloodstream over time.
What part of green onions do you eat?
There are two parts to a green onion.
- The green stalk
- The white bulb
You can eat both parts of the green onion, but many people only eat the white bulb because it has more flavor than the green stalk.
Both parts taste like onions but with a milder flavor. You can also eat them raw on salads, stir-fries, and omelets!
How to choose good green onions to consume?
Green onions are a common vegetable in the market, but do you know what to look for when choosing green onions? You need to be careful when choosing green onions. The following tips will help you find the best green onions to consume.
Choose fresh green onions over old ones.
Freshness is essential when it comes to buying green onions. Choose those that look fresh and have no signs of browning or wilting.
Avoid picking up onions that have been sitting in your refrigerator for weeks because they may not be as fresh as they appear on the surface or, at least, not as fresh as they were when you bought them.
Look at their color.
If they’re dark green and are crisp-tender when you slice them open, then they’re probably more flavorful than scallions or other types of onion. If they’re light green and limp when sliced open, then they might not be as tasty as well-treated onions, which means that if you plan on cooking with them or eating them raw.
Make sure that any green onion isn’t wilted or mushy when bought. This means that it’s been sitting around too long before being sold, which means it won’t have much flavor left in it at all!
Steps on how to cut green onions
Here are the steps on how to cut green onions.
Step 1
First, peel the green onion’s outer layer, revealing the white part. It includes the outer part that looks brown or wilted.
Step 2
Then, cut off the root end of each green onion with a sharp knife.
Step 3
Next, cut off the bottom tip and set it aside for later use so that it can be used as a “handle,” depending on your recipe.
Step 4
Cut your green onions into shorter pieces by cutting off the ends of each stem and then trimming them down to just below where they connect with the stem itself, which is about an inch and a half.
Step 5
Cut the sections into small pieces, usually about 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch. You can use a knife or a vegetable peeler.
Step 6
You can keep going with these smaller cuts until you have as many pieces as your heart desires!
Optional:
You can also make angled cuts on your green onions for a more appealing look.
What are green onion recipes you can try?
After learning to cut green onions, it’s time for a nice and mouthwatering meal with these slices! Check these out!
1. Green onion hot dog
You can use any hot dog, but if you’re feeling fancy, try wrapping it in green onion leaves instead of buns.
2. Green onion chicken wings
You’ll need to marinate your chicken wing pieces in honey and soy sauce for at least an hour before cooking them. Then just grill them until they’re done!
3. Green onion fried rice
This dish is easy to make and even easier to eat. Just mix rice with scallions and let it sit overnight or for at least 20 minutes. Then fry it up in a pan with oil until browned on both sides.
Green onions are so much fun!
There you have it! You’ve learned how to cut green onions, and now you can use them whenever you want for whatever reason. Cutting green onions is fun and adding them to different dishes makes it even more fun and exciting! Now, go get your fresh green onions and start cutting them!