Skip to content

Get everyday dinners planned for you!→

  • About
    • Favorite Things
      • Free Printables
        • Organization Printables
          • Cleaning Printables
      • Etsy Shop
    • Let’s Work Together!
      • Disclosure & Safety Disclaimer
      • Privacy Policy
    • Newsletter
    • Videos
  • Recipe Index
  • Let’s Eat
    • Cooking Frozen Meat
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Ground Beef Recipes
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Family Friendly Dessert Recipes
      • Brownie Mix Hacks
    • Electric Smoker Recipes
      • Free Printable Meat Smoking Chart
  • Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Cooking Times
    • Instant Pot Sausage Recipes
    • Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes
    • Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
    • Instant Pot Beef Recipes
    • Instant Pot Pork Recipes
    • Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
    • Instant Pot Shrimp Recipes
    • Instant Pot Soup Recipes
    • Instant Pot Side Dishes
    • Instant Pot Dessert Recipes
  • Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer Recipes Index
      • Air Fryer Cook Time Chart
    • Frozen Foods for Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
    • Air Fryer Appetizers
    • Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
    • Air Fryer Beef Recipes
    • Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
    • Air Fryer Fish Recipes
    • Air Fryer Desserts
  • Ninja Foodi Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Facebook Group
    • Free Ninja Foodi Cooking Times Printable
    • Ninja Air Fryer Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Beef Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Pork Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Chicken Recipes
    • Ninja Foodi Soups

Home › onion

onion

Onions, are culinary powerhouses that have been a staple in kitchens worldwide for centuries. These humble bulbs play a central role in countless recipes, adding depth, complexity, and a touch of sweetness to dishes across cultures.

Let’s talk about their origins, varieties, culinary uses, and some fun facts about these indispensable ingredients.

They have a long and storied history dating back thousands of years. Their cultivation can be traced to ancient civilizations, including Egypt, where they were even used as currency at times. These have been cherished for their culinary and medicinal properties, making them a kitchen essential in many parts of the world.

Varieties of Onions

There are several arieties, each with its unique characteristics, flavor profiles, and best uses:

  1. Yellow Onions have a pungent, savory flavor. They’re excellent for sautéing, caramelizing onions, and adding depth to soups and stews.
  2. Red Onions have a milder and slightly sweet flavor with a vibrant, deep-red or purple skin. They are often used raw in salads, sandwiches, and salsas for their beautiful color and flavor.
  3. White Onions have a sharper and more pronounced flavor compared to yellow onions. They’re commonly used in Mexican and Latin American cuisine for salsas and pickled dishes.
  4. Sweet Onions like Vidalia, Walla Walla, and Maui are known for their mild, sweet flavor. They’re delicious when sliced raw in salads or on sandwiches and are excellent for frying into onion rings.
  5. Green Onions are often used for garnishing dishes, adding a fresh and slightly peppery flavor.
  6. Shallots have a mild, sweet taste with a hint of garlic. They’re frequently used in French cuisine for dressings, vinaigrettes, and sauces.

How to Use Onions

Onions are incredibly versatile in the kitchen, serving as a flavor base in many recipes and taking center stage in others. Here are some common culinary uses:

  1. Along with garlic and celery, form the aromatic trinity in many culinary traditions, creating a flavorful foundation for soups, stews, and sauces.
  2. Add a savory depth to various dishes, while caramelized onions, cooked low and slow, transform into a sweet and luscious topping for burgers, pizzas, and more.
  3. Particularly red and sweet varieties, are great for adding a crunchy, zesty bite to salads and coleslaws.
  4. Pickling with vinegar and spices to create tangy, flavorful condiments for tacos, sandwiches, and relish trays.
  5. Thinly sliced and battered, these make delicious fried onions, rings, a popular snack or side dish.
  6. Chopped green onions or chives are frequently used as garnishes to add freshness and color to dishes.

Onion Facts

  1. Chopping releases enzymes that react with the air to produce a sulfuric compound, which can irritate the eyes and make you cry. To reduce tears, chill onions in the fridge before chopping or cut them under running water.
  2. Use for their medicinal properties throughout history. They are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.
  3. Cultivated in nearly every corner of the globe.
  4. Holding cultural significance in many societies. In ancient Egypt, they symbolized eternity and were buried with pharaohs. In some cultures, represent rebirth.
A flaky pastry stuffed with seasoned ground meat and red peppers, garnished with chopped herbs, these air fryer empanadas offer a delicious twist on a classic dish.

Air Fryer

Air Fryer Empanadas

A bowl of hearty pressure cooker sausage soup with beans, kale, ground meat, tomato broth, and grated cheese on top.

Pressure Cooker

Pressure Cooker Sausage Soup

Close-up of nachos topped with pressure cooker shredded beef, melted cheese, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro.

Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Shredded Beef

pressure cooker lemon chicken casserole

Chicken

Lemon Chicken Casserole

A close-up of black-eyed peas and tender cabbage cooked to perfection, with a spoon resting invitingly in the pot.

Easy Recipes

Black Eyed Peas and Cabbage

Slow cooker stuffed cabbage rolls are drenched in savory tomato sauce, blending flavors beautifully.

Crockpot

Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage

Glazed venison meatloaf recipe nestled in a foil-lined loaf pan on a wooden board.

Easy Recipes

Venison Meatloaf

A spoon scoops creamy chicken and rice casserole from the pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Chicken

Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Slow cooker BBQ meatballs with sweet and sour flavors, accompanied by juicy pineapple chunks, a black ladle, and a whole pineapple in the background.

Crockpot

Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs

A seasoned whole chicken, richly infused with herbs, is nestled in a black Dutch oven. It's thoughtfully stuffed with carrots and celery, resting invitingly on a wooden surface.

Chicken

Dutch Oven Whole Chicken

A ladle serving creamy broccoli beer cheese soup filled with broccoli florets and carrot pieces.

Sides

Broccoli Beer Cheese Soup

Close-up of Crockpot baked beans with a black spoon, showcasing a rich, savory sauce made from dry beans.

Crockpot

Crockpot Baked Beans with Dry Beans

A bowl of creamy beef and noodles made effortlessly in the Instant Pot, garnished with parsley, featuring tender beef strips and perfectly cooked egg noodles.

Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Beef and Noodles

A bowl of creamy potato soup topped with cheese, crispy bacon, and green onions sits invitingly with a spoon beside it, fresh from the pressure cooker.

Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Potato Soup with Frozen Hash browns

A white bowl filled with air fryer red potatoes, garnished with herbs, surrounded by whole red potatoes.

Air Fryer

Air Fryer Red Potatoes

A breakfast casserole with Bisquick, featuring a slice of cheesy vegetable bake, rests invitingly on a wooden spatula.

Pork

Breakfast Casserole with Bisquick

Posts navigation

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 20
  • Go to Next Page

As Seen In

A black and white line drawing of a cat, as seen in classic illustrations, sitting upright. The cat has a long tail curled around its body, pointed ears, and whiskers extending from its face. Its wide-open eyes give a curious expression.
A black silhouette of a person, as seen in many classrooms, stands pointing to a blank presentation board on a stand. The figure is in a teaching or presenting pose, with one arm extended and the other at their side against a stark white background.
A black square with no visible details or features, as seen in minimalist art exhibits.
A black silhouette of a person holding a megaphone, standing on a small platform, reminiscent of iconic protest images as seen in historic publications. The figure is facing left with one arm extended against a plain white background.
A black and white illustration of a tricycle, as seen in vintage catalogs, features three large wheels. The tricycle sports a seat, handle, and bell on the front frame. Its design is simple and minimalistic, highlighting the essential structure of a classic tricycle.
As seen in many galleries, this black square placeholder image presents a minimalist design with no visible content.
A black cat, as seen in a peaceful moment, sits on a windowsill, looking outside. Sunlight filters through the glass, casting shadows on the wall. The cat's sleek fur and perked ears give it an alert expression while the window offers a view of greenery outside.
Back to top
The Typical Mom
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • Let’s Work Together!

©2025 The Typical Mom. All rights reserved. Disclosure Policy • Privacy Policy • Powered by CultivateWP.