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Home > Explore an Ingredient

Onions

Seasonality

Year-round

Quick Tips

How to cook onions

Onions are a universal produce item. I love thinly sliced red onions in salads and sandwiches. I use almost every variety as a base for stews, casseroles, and sauce. And no homemade stock is complete without onions. I also love grilling and roasting them alongside other vegetables.

How to buy onions

Look for onions that are firm with no soft spots or cuts. I like to check the roots carefully, as it is a good place to look for mold. The skin should be tight around the onion and unpeeled, the odor shouldn’t be too pungent.

How to store onions

Store onions in a cool, dark spot away from potatoes. I have a dedicated drawer for my onions, shallots, and garlic. Onions may sprout when stored long enough, simply cut off the sprout and use the onion as normal. The onion might also develop black mold. Peel the affected layers off and rinse off the remaining spots.

Varieties

Yellow
White
Red
Spanish
Sweet
Pearl

About

One of my not-so-secrets to flavorful vegetarian cooking is almost always using an allium, including garlic, scallions, leeks, shallot, and onions. Cooked onion provides a rich and flavorful base for other ingredients to mingle with, and of course, caramelized onions can be a lovely addition to grilled cheese.

One little hiccup you may have run into while cutting onions is an unprompted tear session streaming down your face. I swear by Deborah Madison’s tip: chill the onions in the refrigerator for a few hours and 10 minutes in the freezer. Also, a sharp knife is a must.

As for leftover onions, I store quarters in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors of onions can leech into other items and before you know it, your butter may taste like onions (which makes for a strange companion for jelly on toast).

Red Onions: As mentioned above, I love thinly sliced red onions in salads and on pizza. These onions tend to be stronger in flavor, but still have a mildly sweet taste. I use red onions for roasting and grilling as well.

White + Yellow Onions: These are the backbone onions. They have consistent flavor, which means I’m always reaching for them to use in soups, stews, gratins, and grain bowls. White onions can be slightly stronger compared to white, but I tend to use them interchangeably. I do not, however, use them raw.

Sweet Onions: Are seasonal. They do not keep in storage like red/yellow/white onions, but are incredible when you can find them. The mild, sweet flavor is great raw, or I’ll use in soups where I want a tamed onion flavor.

Cracked Spelt Risotto with Beets

see full recipe >

 All Vegetarian Onion Recipes

  • Adobo Acorn Squash, Crispy Quinoa, and Chimichurri
    Adobo Acorn Squash, Crispy Quinoa, and Chimichurri
  • Baby Broccoli Frittata with Feta
    Baby Broccoli Frittata with Feta
  • Baked Black Bean Taquitos
    Baked Black Bean Taquitos
  • Bean and Cabbage Tacos with Pickled Onions
    Bean and Cabbage Tacos with Pickled Onions
  • Berbere Black Lentil Stew
    Berbere Black Lentil Stew
  • Black Bean Burrito with Guacamole
    Black Bean Burrito with Guacamole
  • Black Bean Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    Black Bean Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
  • Black Bean Tostadas with Chipotle Butternut Squash
    Black Bean Tostadas with Chipotle Butternut Squash
  • Black Lentil Enchiladas with Zucchini
    Black Lentil Enchiladas with Zucchini
  • Breakfast Quesadillas with Bell Peppers
    Breakfast Quesadillas with Bell Peppers
  • Broccoli Salad with Tahini Dressing
    Broccoli Salad with Tahini Dressing
  • Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta
    Broccoli-Almond Pesto Pasta
  • Brown Rice, Oat, and Nut Vegetarian Patty Melt
    Brown Rice, Oat, and Nut Vegetarian Patty Melt
  • Buffalo Chickpea Salad with Homemade Ranch
    Buffalo Chickpea Salad with Homemade Ranch
  • Buffalo Chickpea Vegetarian Loaded Potato
    Buffalo Chickpea Vegetarian Loaded Potato
  • Bulgur Lentil Ragu with Parsnip-Rutabaga Mash
    Bulgur Lentil Ragu with Parsnip-Rutabaga Mash
  • Bulgur Vegetarian Chili
    Bulgur Vegetarian Chili
  • Butter Butternut Squash Pasta
    Butter Butternut Squash Pasta
  • Butternut Squash Galette with Balsamic Onions and Ricotta
    Butternut Squash Galette with Balsamic Onions and Ricotta
  • Butternut Squash Toast with Fried Eggs
    Butternut Squash Toast with Fried Eggs
  • Butternut Squash Toast with Pistachios and Sage
    Butternut Squash Toast with Pistachios and Sage
  • Cajun Millet Cakes
    Cajun Millet Cakes
  • Caramelized Onion, Mustard, and Cheese Toast (with pickles)
    Caramelized Onion, Mustard, and Cheese Toast (with pickles)
  • Caramelized Onions, Pesto, and Grilled Mozzarella Sandwich
    Caramelized Onions, Pesto, and Grilled Mozzarella Sandwich
  • Carrot White Bean Soup with Herbs
    Carrot White Bean Soup with Herbs
  • Cauliflower Salad with Lemon-Dill Yogurt Dressing
    Cauliflower Salad with Lemon-Dill Yogurt Dressing
  • Cauliflower Stir fry with Quinoa
    Cauliflower Stir fry with Quinoa
  • Chickpea Bowl with Roasted Vegetables and Cilantro Cashew Cream
    Chickpea Bowl with Roasted Vegetables and Cilantro Cashew Cream
  • Chickpea Deli Salad (The Sprouted Kitchen Bowl + Spoon)
    Chickpea Deli Salad (The Sprouted Kitchen Bowl + Spoon)
  • Chickpea Shawarma Stuffed Pita
    Chickpea Shawarma Stuffed Pita
  • Chickpea Shawarma with Millet
    Chickpea Shawarma with Millet
  • Chili Baked Potato with Cheese
    Chili Baked Potato with Cheese
  • Chili Lentils over Sweet Potatoes
    Chili Lentils over Sweet Potatoes
  • Chili Roasted Sweet Potato Sandwich
    Chili Roasted Sweet Potato Sandwich
  • Chipotle Black Bean and Rice Skillet
    Chipotle Black Bean and Rice Skillet
  • Chipotle Black Bean Chili
    Chipotle Black Bean Chili
  • Chipotle Sweet Potato Quesadilla with Cilantro Gremolata
    Chipotle Sweet Potato Quesadilla with Cilantro Gremolata
  • Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos with Black Beans and Guacamole
    Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos with Black Beans and Guacamole
  • Chipotle White Bean Tacos
    Chipotle White Bean Tacos
  • Chorizo-Spiced Vegetarian Nachos
    Chorizo-Spiced Vegetarian Nachos
  • Coconut Curry Carrot Soup
    Coconut Curry Carrot Soup
  • Cracked Spelt Risotto with Roasted Beets
    Cracked Spelt Risotto with Roasted Beets
  • Cream Cheese Roll-ups with Crepes and Vegetables
    Cream Cheese Roll-ups with Crepes and Vegetables
  • Curried Cauliflower Pizza
    Curried Cauliflower Pizza
  • Delicata Squash Pizza
    Delicata Squash Pizza
  • Delicata Squash Tacos with Black Beans
    Delicata Squash Tacos with Black Beans
  • Egg and Green Bean Skillet
    Egg and Green Bean Skillet
  • Einkorn Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Sauce
    Einkorn Ricotta Gnocchi with Roasted Tomato Sauce
  • Enchilada Skillet with Eggs
    Enchilada Skillet with Eggs
  • Fall Cornbread Panzanella Salad with Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette
    Fall Cornbread Panzanella Salad with Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette
  • Farro Salad with Peas and Lemon-Yogurt Dressing
    Farro Salad with Peas and Lemon-Yogurt Dressing
  • Freekeh Omelette with Olives and Feta
    Freekeh Omelette with Olives and Feta
  • Freekeh Salad with Sweet Corn and Arugula
    Freekeh Salad with Sweet Corn and Arugula
  • Fruit Chutney | Component Cooking
    Fruit Chutney | Component Cooking
  • Garlicky Halloumi Tacos
    Garlicky Halloumi Tacos
  • Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
    Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
  • Green Curry with Potatoes and Chickpeas
    Green Curry with Potatoes and Chickpeas
  • Grilled Cheese with Balsamic Onions
    Grilled Cheese with Balsamic Onions
  • Grilled Eggplant Rolls with Cream Cheese and Herbed Millet
    Grilled Eggplant Rolls with Cream Cheese and Herbed Millet
  • Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Cilantro-Tahini Sauce
    Grilled Halloumi Skewers with Cilantro-Tahini Sauce
  • Grilled Peach and Halloumi Skewers with Basil-Jalapeno Sauce
    Grilled Peach and Halloumi Skewers with Basil-Jalapeno Sauce
  • Grilled Sriracha-Tahini Sweet Potato Skewers with Halloumi
    Grilled Sriracha-Tahini Sweet Potato Skewers with Halloumi
  • Grilled Summer Veg Bowl with Kidney Beans
    Grilled Summer Veg Bowl with Kidney Beans
  • Halloumi Salad with Spinach and Quinoa
    Halloumi Salad with Spinach and Quinoa
  • Harissa Cauliflower Lentil Stew with Lemon
    Harissa Cauliflower Lentil Stew with Lemon
  • Harissa Lentils and Cauliflower
    Harissa Lentils and Cauliflower
  • Homemade Veggie Burger with Brown Rice, Oat, and Nuts
    Homemade Veggie Burger with Brown Rice, Oat, and Nuts
  • Kale Baked Eggs with Dukkah
    Kale Baked Eggs with Dukkah
  • Late Summer Pasta with Cream Sauce
    Late Summer Pasta with Cream Sauce
  • Lentil Meatballs with Burst Tomato Pasta
    Lentil Meatballs with Burst Tomato Pasta
  • Loaded Summer Veg Burger with Fried Egg
    Loaded Summer Veg Burger with Fried Egg
  • Marinated Halloumi Skewers with Summer Veg and Chipotle-Lime Peanut Sauce
    Marinated Halloumi Skewers with Summer Veg and Chipotle-Lime Peanut Sauce
  • Minestrone Soup with Brown Rice and Chickpeas
    Minestrone Soup with Brown Rice and Chickpeas
  • Moroccan Carrot Salad with Millet
    Moroccan Carrot Salad with Millet
  • Nut Lentil Bites | Component Cooking
    Nut Lentil Bites | Component Cooking
  • Olive Pizza with Red Onions
    Olive Pizza with Red Onions
  • Onion Frittata with Goat Cheese and Arugula
    Onion Frittata with Goat Cheese and Arugula
  • Pear Chutney Cheese Toast
    Pear Chutney Cheese Toast
  • Pecan Tomatillo Soup
    Pecan Tomatillo Soup
  • Pesto Potato Skillet
    Pesto Potato Skillet
  • Pesto Summer Squash Bruschetta with Poached Eggs
    Pesto Summer Squash Bruschetta with Poached Eggs
  • Pickled Carrot and Hummus Sandwich
    Pickled Carrot and Hummus Sandwich
  • Quinoa Chard Frittata with Balsamic Onions
    Quinoa Chard Frittata with Balsamic Onions
  • Quinoa Potato Cakes
    Quinoa Potato Cakes
  • Quinoa White Bean Stew
    Quinoa White Bean Stew
  • Red Kuri Squash Curry with Chard
    Red Kuri Squash Curry with Chard
  • Red Lentil Masala with Spinach
    Red Lentil Masala with Spinach
  • Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Roasted Tomato Sauce
    Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Roasted Tomato Sauce
  • Roasted Broccoli Peanut Noodles
    Roasted Broccoli Peanut Noodles
  • Roasted Cauliflower Soup
    Roasted Cauliflower Soup
  • Roasted Chipotle Sweet Potato and Sorghum Salad
    Roasted Chipotle Sweet Potato and Sorghum Salad
  • Roasted Pear, Gorgonzola, and Honey Toast
    Roasted Pear, Gorgonzola, and Honey Toast
  • Roasted Potato Pizza with Goat Cheese
    Roasted Potato Pizza with Goat Cheese
  • Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Cannellini Bean and Spinach Salad
    Roasted Red Kuri Squash with Cannellini Bean and Spinach Salad
  • Roasted Sweet Potato, Caramelized Onion, and Gorgonzola Quiche
    Roasted Sweet Potato, Caramelized Onion, and Gorgonzola Quiche
  • Roasted Tomato Gazpacho
    Roasted Tomato Gazpacho
  • Roasted Tomato Salsa
    Roasted Tomato Salsa
  • Romesco Potato Pizza
    Romesco Potato Pizza
  • Root Vegetable Cassoulet
    Root Vegetable Cassoulet
  • Root Vegetable Hash Egg Skillet
    Root Vegetable Hash Egg Skillet
  • Savory Rye Crepes with Peaches and Blue Cheese
    Savory Rye Crepes with Peaches and Blue Cheese
  • Sesame Kabocha Squash Soup
    Sesame Kabocha Squash Soup
  • Shaved Brussels Sprout Potstickers
    Shaved Brussels Sprout Potstickers
  • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Einkorn and Soy-Mustard Dressing
    Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Einkorn and Soy-Mustard Dressing
  • Shaved Parsnip Salad with Parsley
    Shaved Parsnip Salad with Parsley
  • Smoked Paprika Potato Spinach Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
    Smoked Paprika Potato Spinach Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Smoked Paprika Red Potatoes and Egg Bake
    Smoked Paprika Red Potatoes and Egg Bake
  • Smoked Paprika Red Potatoes and Spinach Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese
    Smoked Paprika Red Potatoes and Spinach Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese
  • Spiced Chickpea Cucumber Salad
    Spiced Chickpea Cucumber Salad
  • Spiced Lentil Stew with Potatoes
    Spiced Lentil Stew with Potatoes
  • Spiced Pinto Bean Bowls with Avocado
    Spiced Pinto Bean Bowls with Avocado
  • Spiced Sweet Potato Skewers with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
    Spiced Sweet Potato Skewers with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
  • Spicy Lentil Vegan Sloppy Joes
    Spicy Lentil Vegan Sloppy Joes
  • Spinach Curried Red Potato Salad
    Spinach Curried Red Potato Salad
  • Spinach Enchiladas with Lentils
    Spinach Enchiladas with Lentils
  • Spinach Fennel Pizza
    Spinach Fennel Pizza
  • Spinach Pizza with Homemade Ranch
    Spinach Pizza with Homemade Ranch
  • Spring Asparagus Flatbread
    Spring Asparagus Flatbread
  • Stuffed Hatch Chiles with Cilantro-Lime Yogurt
    Stuffed Hatch Chiles with Cilantro-Lime Yogurt
  • Sumac Cauliflower Salad with Lentils
    Sumac Cauliflower Salad with Lentils
  • Summer Squash Soup
    Summer Squash Soup
  • Summer Vegetable Frittata
    Summer Vegetable Frittata
  • Summer Vegetable Pasta with Chickpeas
    Summer Vegetable Pasta with Chickpeas
  • Summer Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Cream
    Summer Vegetarian Tacos with Avocado Cream
  • Summer Veggie Omelette
    Summer Veggie Omelette
  • Sweet Corn Pasta with Goat Cheese
    Sweet Corn Pasta with Goat Cheese
  • Sweet Corn Sorghum Stuffed Peppers
    Sweet Corn Sorghum Stuffed Peppers
  • Sweet Corn Soup with Harissa
    Sweet Corn Soup with Harissa
  • Sweet Corn Soup with Hazelnut-Dill Garnish
    Sweet Corn Soup with Hazelnut-Dill Garnish
  • Sweet Potato Barley Stew
    Sweet Potato Barley Stew
  • Sweet Potato Hash Egg Skillet
    Sweet Potato Hash Egg Skillet
  • Tahini Noodle Bowl with Collards
    Tahini Noodle Bowl with Collards
  • Three Onion Fried Rice
    Three Onion Fried Rice
  • Three-Bean Vegan Chili
    Three-Bean Vegan Chili
  • Three-Grain Grilled Vegetable and Feta Salad
    Three-Grain Grilled Vegetable and Feta Salad
  • Tomatillo Dressing (+ site updates)
    Tomatillo Dressing (+ site updates)
  • Turmeric Cauliflower Egg Skillet
    Turmeric Cauliflower Egg Skillet
  • Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos
    Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos
  • Vegetarian Chili Cheese Fries
    Vegetarian Chili Cheese Fries
  • Vegetarian Enchiladas Verdes
    Vegetarian Enchiladas Verdes
  • Vegetarian Nachos with Chipotle Sweet Potatoes
    Vegetarian Nachos with Chipotle Sweet Potatoes
  • White Bean Masala Smothered Sweet Potatoes
    White Bean Masala Smothered Sweet Potatoes
  • Wild Rice Veggie Sliders with Herbed Ricotta
    Wild Rice Veggie Sliders with Herbed Ricotta
  • Zucchini Bake with Farro and Ricotta
    Zucchini Bake with Farro and Ricotta
  • Zucchini Sweet Corn Hash Egg Skillet
    Zucchini Sweet Corn Hash Egg Skillet
Onion

Recent Recipes

  • Carrot White Bean Soup with Herbs
    Carrot White Bean Soup with Herbs
  • Bean and Cabbage Tacos with Pickled Onions
    Bean and Cabbage Tacos with Pickled Onions
  • Minestrone Soup with Brown Rice and Chickpeas
    Minestrone Soup with Brown Rice and Chickpeas

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I'm Erin and this is my space for all things vegetarian food inspired by California and my love of cooking.


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Winter recipes

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  • Adobo Acorn Squash, Crispy Quinoa, and Chimichurri
  • Roasted Sweet Potato Rice Paper Rolls with Spinach
  • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Einkorn and Soy-Mustard Dressing

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