How does the flavor of shallots differ from that of yellow onions?!


Question: How does the flavor of shallots differ from that of yellow onions!?
When ever a recipie calls for shallots, I just use yellow onions because I always have them around!. However, I was wondering recently how much difference in the flavor of my food this exchange is making!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Shallots are a sort of mild mix between red onion and garlic!. Yellow onion is a pretty good substitute because it's also mild!. If I were you, I'd add a tiny bit of garlic into the recipes as well, just to get closer to the flavor of the shallot!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

If you don't like the strong flavors of garlic and onions, but don't want to give them up completely, then shallots are the perfect choice!. This small vegetable is technically an onion, but it looks a lot like garlic and has a mild garlic flavor!. Shallots carmelize like onions, just one of the reasons why they are the darling of professional gourmet chefs and home cooks alike!. Before trying one of the many recipes, learn more about how to select and store shallots, and some basic cooking tips and hints!.

Native to the Mediterranean, shallots are botanically known as Allium ascalonicum!. The botanical name derives from Ascalon, a town in South Palestine, where they are thought to have originated!. They are members of the same family as garlic and onions but lack the strong sulphuric aroma and irritating fumes!.

It is surmised that De Soto brought shallots to the United States during his Louisiana explorations!. The shallot is particularly popular in French dishes!.
Do not confuse shallots with green onions or scallions as they are called in some areas, particularly in Louisiana!. Early French settlers most likely had to substitute green onions for shallots, hence the confusion!.

The shallot looks rather like a small, elongated onion with copper, reddish, or gray skin!. Once you peel it, it divides into cloves like garlic, rather than one bulb with concentric layers like an onion!. This can be confusing in some recipes as it's hard to determine whether the entire shallot bulb is needed or if the number count refers to the amount of shallot cloves!. Once peeled, small shallot bulbs will have two to three individual cloves and large shallots can have up to six cloves!. In general, if the recipe calls for one shallot, use all the cloves within that single shallot bulb!.

Shallots are generally available year-round, but prime time is from April through August!. When selecting shallots, think onions!. The shallots should be firm and heavy for their size, not dry and light, and should have no soft spots!. Sprouting shallots are an indication of age and should be avoided!. The younger (smaller) the shallot, the milder the taste!. Large shallots will smell and taste more like their onion and garlic cousins!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Sweeter!. More delicate!. Not overpowering!. Garlic!.green onion flavorWww@FoodAQ@Com

Shallots are like creamy mild garlic!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





The consumer Foods information on foodaq.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007 FoodAQ - Terms of Use - Contact us - Privacy Policy

Food's Q&A Resources