Spanish Onion


A Spanish onion is an onion that is larger, and usually sweeter, than traditional white onions.


Other names: red onion, sweet onion, purple onion, yellow onion
Translations: Spāņu Sīpoli, Ispanijos svogūnas, Spaniolă ceapa, Španjolski luk, Tây Ban Nha Onion, Hiszpański Onion, Spaanse Onion, स्पेनिश प्याज, Espanhol Cebola, Испанский лук, Ισπανικά Κρεμμύδι, الاسبانية البصل, 스페인어 양파, Španělské cibule, Шпански Лук, Espanyol sibuyas, 西班牙洋葱, Ceba espanyola, Španska Čebula, Španielskej cibule, Spagnolo Cipolla, ספרדית בצל, Spanska Onion, Spanyol Bawang, スペインタマネギ, Oignon espagnol, Spansk Onion, Spansk Onion, Cebolla española, Іспанська цибуля, Espanjan Sipuli, Испански лук

Physical Description

Spanish onions come in 3 colors. Yellow, white and red. They are roundish in appearance and on average the size of a tennis ball to the size of a softball.

Colors: yellow, red, white

Tasting Notes

Flavors: full-flavoured, sweet when sauteed
Mouthfeel: Full-flavoured, Delicate
Food complements: Beef, Beef broth, Gorgonzola, Swiss type cheeses, Tomatoes
Wine complements: Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Palette, Red wine
Beverage complements: Tea, Ginger ale, Lemonade
Substitutes: Bermuda onion, Yellow onion, Leeks, Shallots, Green onions

Selecting and Buying

Choosing: Onions should be firm and heavy. Avoid onions that have sprouted or that have an odor, green or moldy blemishes or soft spots.
Buying: The Spanish onion is the variety that is most often found in the grocery stores.
Procuring: Onions are grown from seed or very commonly from "sets". Onion sets are produced by sowing seed very thickly one year, resulting in stunted plants which produce very small bulbs. These bulbs are then set out and grown into mature bulbs the following year, but they have the reputation of producing a less durable bulb than onions grown directly from seed and thinned.

Preparation and Use

It is the largest, most popular onion for slicing and eating raw because of its mild sweet taste. They can also be baked, sautéed, or fried and they store well.

Cleaning: Rinse the onion under cool water and peel back the paper like outer peel. Trim the top and bottom and the onion is ready for use.

Conserving and Storing

Onions can last for several weeks (if not months) without compromising their taste or nutritional value. However, you must be sure to store them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Onions stay fresh longer if kept in loosely woven bags (canvas works perfectly) to promote air circulation.
Once you cut an onion, wrap whatever portion you don’t use in plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator. It will keep about 4 days.



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