Onion issue - no red onion available

6 years ago

I am planning to make a pear and Gorgonzola salad for a dinner party we’re having. I couldn’t get the red onion that the recipe caled for and ended up with a white onion. I’m worried that The flavour might be too strong for the salad. I’ve read about soaking raw onion to mellow out the flavour. It,I also have a whole bunch of chives in my herb garden. What do you think would work better?

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carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

FWIW,here's my trick with raw onions for sandwiches, to cut the pungency, and preserve the crispness:

Slice thinly and put in a sieve then rinse well with very hot water - I use water heated to almost boiling in a teakettle, much hotter than tapwater - and pat dry with paper towel.

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Comments (10)

chloebud
6 years ago
Chives would be okay, but my personal choice would be to use the white onion for that particular salad. Give the slices an ice water soak and maybe use a little less than you would with the red.
Louiseab thanked chloebud
plllog
6 years ago
Taste the onion! Some red onions are really really strong and some white onions (not Vidalia or Maui) are juicy and sweet. Spanish onions seem to be the most consistent in terms of sharp to sweet and moisture content, but seem to vary more on salt. Taste the onion and you'll know if you want to put it in your salad. If it's a little too sharp, but close enough, cut it smaller and use less. :)
Louiseab thanked plllog
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olychick
6 years ago
You can also mellow the onion by soaking for a short while (10-15 minutes) in whatever acid you are using in the salad dressing, vinegar or lemon juice, etc.
Louiseab thanked olychick
Islay Corbel
6 years ago
I was going to suggest soaking in lemon juice. It really transforms onion.
Louiseab thanked Islay Corbel
nancyofnc
6 years ago
I couldn't find red onions either so I bought Vidalia's. They are milder than red IMO but aren't as pretty in a salad. Since I had to buy a whole bag of them (on sale) I made caramelized onions for my French onion soup -- delicious!
Louiseab thanked nancyofnc
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
6 years ago
Such a nice salad! I would use your 'free' chives for some color like a garnish. And soak your onion slices. Does not take long. 15 minutes up to an hour in ice water in the fridge. I use vinegar but lemon will work as well.

(onions have been through a recent FDA re-call)...see post on the first page.
Louiseab thanked sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
6 years ago
Does everybody realize that there was a recall on red onions because of salmonella contamination?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/recall-red-onions-expected-in-salmonella-outbreak-shipped-to-all-50-states-and-canada/ar-BB17wB6B
Louiseab
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
carolb, yes, that’s why there are none to be had here. But I also heard they have extended the warning to most other onion varieties.
artemis_ma
6 years ago
Onion recall? Mine are locally grown. I didn't grow any myself this year, but the ones I have are from local farmers. Yellow ones at the moment, though.

Onion issue - no red onion available

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10

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Onion issue - no red onion available

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