When we think of onions, the common yellow, white, and red varieties usually come to mind. However, the world of onions is vast and diverse, with many unique types that can elevate your culinary creations. Let’s explore some lesser-known onion varieties from around the globe and discover how you can incorporate them into your cooking.
- Cipollini onions: from Italy. Cipollini onions are small, flat, and saucer-shaped, with a sweet and mild flavour. They are typically yellow or red. Perfect for roasting and pickling.
- Rakkyo: from Japan. Rakkyo onions are small, bulbous, and white. They have a crisp texture and a slightly spicy flavour. They are often pickled in vinegar and sugar, but also works very well in a stir-fry.
- Welsh onion: from China. Welsh onions, also known as bunching onions or Japanese leeks, resemble spring onions but have a thicker, more robust stem. Much like spring onions, the Welsh onion is perfect for grilling, but also goes well in soups and stews.
- Tropea onions: from Italy. Tropea onions are elongated, red onions known for their sweetness. They are a staple in Italian cuisine. Their sweet flavour makes them ideal for raw applications like salads but can also be caramelised.
- Red Creole onions: from United States. Red Creole onions are small to medium-sized with a deep red colour and a pungent, spicy flavour. Their spiciness adds a bold flavour to salsas and relishes.
Exploring lesser-known onion varieties can add new dimensions to cooking. Each type brings its unique flavour profile and texture, allowing for creativity and experimentation.
M&P Engineering is a leading manufacturer and supplier of food processing equipment to suit all food production factories.
M&P’s Large Onion Peeling machine uses self-adjusting floating knives to top, tail, and peel onions of 45mm to 115mm diameter. The machine is easy to operate due to its simplistic mechanism and design and thanks to the dry peeling process the product remains in pristine condition once it has been peeled.
M&P Engineering offers a wide range of food processing machinery in addition to onion peeling machines, including freshcut equipment such as our Carousel Grid Cutting Machine and our Radish Top & Tailer.
To learn more about M&P Engineering and our products and services, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team today.