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You can use green onions not only as an additive for your side dishes, but also as a main course. There are many technologies for preparing such a product: frying, stewing and baking.
However, professional chefs recommend cooking green onions on the grill. This cooking method will allow you to get juicy green onions with a crispy crust!
Which onions are best for grilling?Â
For grilling, you can use onions of any variety.
The main thing is to choose a fresh and firm vegetable. If you are going to bake the whole onion, choose a symmetrical head so that it is evenly cooked when you grill it. Cooks claim that sweet and red onions are also perfect for grilling.
However, green onions should be firm so that the fibers do not soften much after contact with high temperature.
Are grilled green onions healthy?
Green onion is a herbaceous plant of the Onion family. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and therefore especially useful for human health.
This plant is an effective remedy for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Some of the studies have shown that eating onions is associated with a reduced risk of developing stomach cancer.
However, such a product, cooked on the grill, becomes less useful. But if you cook it with olive oil instead of vegetable oil, the benefits of the vegetable will increase.
How do you cut onions to grill them?
Proper slicing will help you cook green onions quickly and without problems. Professional chefs advise cutting the plant into 4 slices 2.5 cm thick.
Next, remove the outer ring of the husk from each piece. Sprinkle the chopped green onions with vegetable oil and add the seasoning for the steak on all sides or salt and pepper to taste.
Fry on a hot grill or in a non-stick frying pan for 5-7 minutes on each side, until the onion is tender and begins to caramelize.
What is the difference between grilled and caramelized onions?
There is a big difference between grilled green onions and caramelized onions. It is worth remembering that for each recipe you need to choose a certain type of preparation.
Grilled onions are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Caramelized onions are distinguished by a brown-golden crust. Pay attention to the scope of application in cooking of each type of onion:
- raw onion is suitable for cold dishes (salads, snacks)
- caramelized onions can be used for soups and side dishes
- grilled onions are ideal for use as a main dish or to complement steaksÂ
How to Grill Green Onions
The process of grilling green onions is quite simple. You can use the classic technology of preparation. This way you will get an excellent independent picnic dish, a side dish for steak or a good sandwich topping.
To do everything right, just follow the instructions:
- Choose thick green onion feathers and brush them with olive oil.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Place onions on the grill and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the green onions to plates and sprinkle with salt.
How to grill green onions on the stoveÂ
You can cook green onions on the grill without using the grill itself. To do this, you will need a regular stove and a barbecue pan. For this grilled green onions recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- green onion – 5-6 sprigs
- olive oil – 2 teaspoons
- turmeric – 1 teaspoon
- cumin – 1 teaspoon
- coriander – to taste
- kosher salt – to taste
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Rinse and chop the green onions.
- Heat the oil in a barbeque pan (or grill pan) to medium high heat.
- Mix all the spices in a cup.
- Place the green onion sprigs in the pan and add the spices. Fry for 3-4 minutes, turning constantly. Serve hot.
Grilled green onions in foil
You can also grill green onions in foil. So you will get an analogue of stewed vegetables.
This is a simple recipe for which you will only need a hot grill, foil, spring onions and fresh lemon juice. Just rinse the onions under cold water, put them on foil and sprinkle with lemon juice.
Wrap the edges of the foil and place on a preheated grill. The prep time will not differ much from the cooking on the stove top. On average, such a dish will be ready in 3-4 minutes.
 Grilled green onions in oven
Baked green onions are a light side dish for steaks and fish. This is another affordable option for how you can cook onions. The technology of preparation is simple:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Put the onion in a baking dish. Sprinkle it with thyme, salt and pepper. Put the butter around the onion.
- Bake the onion until soft and light golden brown — about 35 minutes.
Grilled Chinese tortillas with green onions
Don’t know what to take to work as a hearty quick snack? See how to cook Chinese onion tortillas – an inexpensive option to replace bread. Be sure to add grilled green onions – this is a classic. For such a dish you will need the following ingredients:
- flour — 250 grams
- olive oil — 50 grams
- boiling water — 150 grams
- salt — to taste
- provencal herbs — to taste
- green onions — 1 bunch
- vegetable oil — 50-100 ml
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Finely chop green onions and fry on the grill.
- Mix the sifted flour with salt, olive oil and Provencal herbs. Add boiling water in small parts, mix with a spatula, then knead on the table.
- Wrap the dough in a foil and leave for 30 minutes at room temperature. Roll out the dough into a thin layer (2-3 mm). Sprinkle the dough with olive oil, spread the grilled green onions over it and make a roll.
- Cut the roll into 12 pieces, pinch the sides and form balls. Roll out each ball again into a thin cake.
- Roast the tortillas in preheated vegetable oil on both sides until golden brown.
Green onion appetizer with celery recipe
This is a simple recipe for making snacks from grilled green onions and hot peppers. For it, you will need the following ingredients:
- green onion – 1 kilogram
- celery – 2 pieces
- hot green pepper – 1/2 pieces
- olive oil – 40 grams
- lemon juice – 1 piece
- water – 1/4 cup
- herbs, salt – to taste
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Cut green onions into rings of medium thickness and cook them on the grill.
- Grate the celery on a coarse grater.
- Finely chop the pepper, having previously cleaned it from seeds and stalks.
- Take a large saucepan, where you put all the ingredients.
- Add lemon juice, spices, water, oil, and salt there. Mix everything very thoroughly.
- Simmer the mixture for 7 to 10 minutes, then remove from the heat and cool. Do not forget to stir from time to time.
- When serving, put the dish in a salad bowl. Serve the bread separately.
Marinades for grilling green onions
You can use marinades to cook green onions on the grill. This will help you get a product with a richer taste and a pleasant texture. Pay attention to the following options:
Marinade with lemon juice. For this recipe, you will need water, lemon juice, cloves, bay leaf, and cinnamon. Just mix all the ingredients and pour this marinade over the green onions for 1-2 hours.
Marinade with salt. This is the easiest way to cook tender and juicy green onions. Just mix salt with sunflower oil and pour it over the green onions.
Korean marinade. Marinating according to this recipe allows you to make a universal preparation, combined with both first courses and side dishes, meat.
The following ingredients will be required: water, salt, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, olive oil, and ground red pepper.Â
What are scallions?
Scallions (or spring onions) are young onions that have a special delicate taste. These vegetables are not able to form new bulbs and you can use only their upper part for food.
The white stem has a pungent taste, not suitable for most dishes. However, you can use the stem of the scallions to prepare hot sauces or seasonings.
There is another reason for the frequent use of this plant by chefs in their recipes. The scallion’s smell with notes of fresh grass, garlic and apple is good for side dish cuisine.
Are Scallions and Green Onions the Same Thing?
Regular scallions and green onions have differences that are important in the grilling process. Green onions have the following characteristics:
- longer and more delicate green leaves
- stiff white stems with a slightly pronounced taste
- fibrous white roots
At the same time, the scallions have white stems with a pungent taste and less delicate green leaves.
Bbq green onions vs green onions
Barbecue green onions are very different from regular green onions. Firstly, after heat treatment, the vegetable fibers soften and become more tender.
Secondly, barbecue green onions secrete more juice and thereby become fresher. Ordinary green onions have a tough crunchy structure and a strongly pronounced piquant taste.
The barbecue vegetable is more bland and pleasant for consumption.
What’s a good substitute for green onions?
You may encounter a situation where there will not be green onions at hand necessary for a particular recipe. What to do in such a case?
Just remember which green onion substitutes for grilling or barbecue you can use. Among them:
- Green garlic. This is a bright independent snack, as well as a wonderful addition for burgers, sandwiches and salads. This young plant has a milder taste than green onions. However, it can be quite difficult to distinguish the two products externally.
- It looks like a very large green onion, but its taste is not so spicy and sharp. This is a great substitute, especially for those who like diet food.
- Mexican green onions. This is a spicy vegetable that you can use for a variety of Mexican recipes. It is slightly different from green onions in taste and smell, but in total it acts as a good substitute.
What to serve grilled green onions with
Grilled onions can be used both as a side dish and as a main course. This dish will perfectly complement the assorted vegetables from the grill, barbecue meat, fish, and seafood.
You can also serve such a dish to the table together with white wine or concentrated juices. Chefs advice giving a little Asian flavor to fried onions by adding soy sauce to it and sprinkling with sesame seeds.
Storage rulesÂ
Storage rules are very important for grilled onions. There are situations when you have cooked too much and do not want the dish to spoil. In such cases, you should know how to properly store grilled green onions.
If the vegetable is chopped coarsely, wrap it with foil and put it in the refrigerator. So the storage time can reach 2-3 days.
To store cooked onions (grilled or baked), cool them (about 2 hours) and transfer them to an airtight container. Try to use the prepared onions faster, otherwise the taste will spoil.
Common tips
So that the process of grilling green onions does not become difficult for you, follow the advice from professional chefs. Among them:
- For grilling, you can choose both hard and slightly wilted stems. The main thing is that the root ends are suitable for consumption. In the process of cooking, the vegetable fibers will still soften and become tender.
- You can pickle green onions if you want to give them a rich taste and aroma.
- Grill green onions in olive oil to make them more healthy to eat. Vegetable oil in contact with high temperature releases a lot of toxic substances. Experts do not recommend using it for grilling vegetables.
Final thoughts
Grilled green onions are a great option for a healthy and unusual dinner. You can use such a dish as a snack, meat additive or pie filling. Just learn how to choose the right green onions, chop them and choose the right time of preparation.
If you don’t have a grill in your kitchen, you can use a regular barbecue pan. Don’t be afraid to experiment and include green onions in your diet!