Red, white, yellow, green or sweet onion? This may seem anecdotal, yet each variety of onion has its flavor, a preferred type of cooking, and a use. Zoom in on this vegetable with a thousand and one layers so you never make a mistake again, and cook it like a pro.
In cooking, onion is one of the most used (and most affordable) ingredients. In reality, it is not a single food, but several types of onions with their own cooking methods and flavors.
What are the differences between white, yellow, red onions, etc.?
Generally speaking, the finer the onion is chopped, the quicker it will cook (this principle applies to all foods). In practice, things are not that simple. There are in fact five main types of onions used in cooking. In addition to their different appearance, they each improve the flavor of our dishes in their own way.
Yellow onion
The yellow onion, white on the inside and brown on the outside, is probably the most common onion in France. It has a fairly short cooking time and caramelizes very easily. In fact, it is often characterized as an “all-purpose” onion. If in doubt, this is the one you should turn to as it is the safest option. The longer the yellow onion cooks, the sweeter it will taste. Yellow onion is the ideal food for stews, soups, broths, sauces, meat dishes, or even homemade pies and pizza.
Sweet onion
Visually quite similar to the yellow onion, the sweet onion is also white on the inside but has an outer layer that looks lighter than its counterpart. With a very strong taste, it is used in recipes where it constitutes the main food such as onion fritters, or even onion soup. It is also found in fried dishes, since it is very easily cooked in a pan.
Red onion
With its mild flavor and radiant color look, the red onion was almost designed to be eaten raw! In fact, it slips perfectly into any salad, sandwich, homemade hamburger, or guacamole and brightens up our plates in the blink of an eye thanks to its seductive purple reflections. However, beware of anyone who dares to cook it, which would result in less punchy onions with a muted flavor. Also, red onion is perfect prepared in homemade pickles.
White onion
Very little used, the white onion is the crunchiest of the family. They are more commonly found in Mexican cuisine, where it enhances cold dishes like salsas, thanks to its slightly spicy flavor.
Green onion
Green onion is widely used in Asian and Latin American cuisine. It has a very mild flavor, which is slightly accentuated at the ends (white parts). It is found in cooked and raw preparations, such as salads, or on homemade fried noodles for example.
The best onion variety according to my recipes
Which onion for a raw recipe?
If the yellow onion is a safe bet that goes everywhere, the red onion remains essential in raw recipes. We choose it for its rather light flavor, and its beautiful purple color which puts you in a good mood. You can also opt for white onion, with its crunchy texture and slightly spicy taste, which will spice up any plate in no time.
Which onion for a frying recipe?
Sweet onion is the perfect food when it comes to frying it in a pan, with vegetables for example, or even covered in breadcrumbs for irresistible fritters. Thanks to its quick cooking, yellow onion is another option that works perfectly, especially when it comes to caramelizing them.
Which onion for stews?
Yes, you will have recognized it. For simmered dishes, it is obviously yellow onion that we use, for its all-purpose side. We easily slip it into a beef bourguignon, a stew, a tagine or a casserole.
Grilled baozi with candied onions, smoked cheddar, and Comté
© Emanuela Cino
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 45 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Grilled Baozi with candied onions, smoked cheddar, and Comté
Roasted sweet Cévennes onions, black olive seasoning and alfalfa and fennel sprouts
© Delphine Constantini
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 20 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Roasted sweet Cévennes onions, black olive seasoning and alfalfa and fennel sprouts
Croque monsieur with sweet onions, nasturtiums and horseradish
© Grégoire Kalt
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 25 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Croque-monsieur with sweet onions, nasturtiums and horseradish
Puff pastry tart with candied onions and chanterelles sautéed with thyme
© Valéry Guedes
- 6 persons
- Level: Very easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Puff pastry tart with candied onions and chanterelles sautéed with thyme
Smoked potato mousse
© Yann Deret
- 6 persons
- Level: Quite difficult
- 120 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Smoked potato mousse
Cipolle ripiene
© Giavonni Passerini
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 25 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Cipolle ripiene
Grilled Green Onions with Hazelnuts
© Kris Kirkham
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 10 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Grilled Green Onions with Hazelnuts
Deviled eggs and tangy onions
© Victor Picon
- 4 people
- Level: Very easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Stuffed Eggs and Tangy Onions
Rustic red onion and tomato tart
© Marjolaine Daguerre
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 30 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Rustic red onion and tomato tart
Pissaladiere
© Marine Brusson
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 20 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Pissaladière
Fine onion and red mullet tart
© Carrie Solomon
- 8 people
- Level: Quite difficult
- 60 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Fine onion and red mullet tart
Rustic onion, raclette and mustard tart
© Akiko Ida
- 4 people
- Level: Very easy
- 20 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Rustic onion, raclette and mustard tart
At Onion gratin
© Virginie Garnier
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 25 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Onion gratinée
Fresh onion tart
© Carrie Salomon
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Fresh onion tart
Onions stuffed with rice and lentils
© Jean-Claude Amiel
- 4 people
- Level: Very easy
- 35 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Onions stuffed with rice and lentils
Fried onions
© Jean-Claude Amiel
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 5 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Fried onions
Caramelized Baked Onions
© Alain Gelberger
- 8 people
- Level: Easy
- 10 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Caramelized Baked Onions
Toasted bread salad, candied onions and button mushrooms
© Pierre Baëlen
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 30 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Toasted bread salad, candied onions and button mushrooms
Onion tatin, parmesan sorbet
© Nathalie Carnet
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Onion tatin, parmesan sorbet
Onion soup, cashew cheese
© Alexander Wilmot
- 4 people
- Level: Very easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Onion soup, cashew cheese