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Scallion

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Scallions are tasty vegetables that many people enjoy.

Chopped scallions
Chopped scallions

Some people call them green onions or spring onions. They belong to a group of plants called Allium. This group also includes garlic, leeks, and chives. Scallions have long, thin, green leaves. These leaves are hollow and shaped like tubes. The bottom of the plant is white near the root. Most scallions do not grow a large, round bulb. This makes them different from the big onions in your kitchen.

2010-06-19-supermarkt-by-RalfR-32
2010-06-19-supermarkt-by-RalfR-32

They have a mild and sweet flavor.

Growing and using these plants is a simple process. First, a seed must germinate to start growing. This usually takes between 7 and 14 days.

Germinating scallion
Germinating scallion

Once they grow, you can eat the leaves in many ways. You can eat them raw in salads or salsas. You can also cook them in many different dishes. Sometimes, people make scallion oil by cooking chopped leaves in vegetable oil. In China, cooks often fry the white parts with other ingredients. They usually use the green parts as a decoration on top of finished food. People often remove the very bottom half-centimeter of the root before eating.

These plants have a very long history. The names scallion and shallot come from an old French word. That word came from a Latin name for an onion. This name was linked to an ancient city called Ascalon. This city was a coastal place in the Eastern Mediterranean. Scallions have many different names around the world. In Scotland, some people call them syboe or gibbon. Other names include table onion, salad onion, or even baby onion. Many of these names show how people see the plant.

Different cultures use scallions in special ways.

Haemul-pajeon 3
Haemul-pajeon 3

In Ireland, people add them to mashed potatoes to make champ. In Mexico, they grill whole onions with salt called cebollitas. These are eaten with lime, cheese, and rice. In Japan, sliced scallions are a popular topping for ramen.

In Vietnam, they make a rice porridge called cháo hành to help with colds. In the Philippines, they grind them with ginger to make a condiment called wet palapa. Even during religious meals, they have a role. Afghan and Persian Jews use them during a Passover Seder.

Scallions connect to many famous cooking styles. In China, they are part of a "holy trinity." This means they are cooked with ginger and garlic. This is a very common way to start a meal. This is similar to how French cooks use celery, onion, and carrot. In Cajun cooking, people also use a "holy trinity" of ingredients. Scallions are also used in many Asian soups and noodle dishes. From Nepal to Korea, these green plants add flavor to many meals. They are a truly global vegetable.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Germinating scallion.jpg
Germinating scallion.jpg
File:2010-06-19-supermarkt-by-RalfR-32.jpg
2010-06-19-supermarkt-by-RalfR-32.jpg
File:Chopped scallions.jpg
Chopped scallions.jpg
File:Haemul-pajeon 3.jpg
Haemul-pajeon 3.jpg
File:鶴亀堂 博多ネギバカチャーシュー.jpg
鶴亀堂 博多ネギバカチャーシュー.jpg
File:Champ with pork and gravy (cropped).jpg
Champ with pork and gravy (cropped).jpg
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