Original uses of onion: you will make a cake, soup and even dessert

An increasingly popular vegetable

According to Vaida Budrienė, communication manager for retail chain Iki, this year’s sales data shows that onions are an increasingly popular product in the vegetable range, according to a press release.

“If we compare the first half of this year with last year, there is a trend that more and more onions are bought. During the quarantine period, it was even one of the top 5 best-selling items. We assume that such popularity was determined by the fact that most people started working remotely, much more often cooking at home, and onions, which is no secret, are used in practically all dishes ” says V. Budrienė.

According to V. Budrienė, although customers can choose between sweet, white, pink and shallot onions and shallots in the retail chain stores, yellow onions are still the most popular.

“Furthermore, we note that not only the variety but also the Lithuanian origin of the onions is important to buyers. Although we also import these vegetables from other countries: Poland, Holland, Egypt, Spain and Ukraine, Lithuanian products are still the most demanded. This trend is not surprising: local origins are associated with freshness and high quality for Lithuanians, ”he says.

Onions – from a reliable farm

Linas Šateika, a farmer from the Šiauliai district, has been supplying high-quality onions to Iki stores for about 20 years. Besides the vegetables mentioned, carrots grown by him can also be found in supermarkets.

According to L. Šatea, this year’s onion harvest is abundant. The meteorological conditions were favorable for this: both the rain and the sun were saved. However, according to the farmer, the most important criterion that he applies to cultivated vegetables is their impeccable quality.

“The products supplied by our farm are ideal for those who choose vegetables carefully, adhere to the principles of a healthy diet, take care of the health of their family, value quality and fresh food. For us it is important that the vegetables that arrive on the store shelves give buyers a sense of taste, as if the onions were grown in their own garden, ”says the farmer.

Source of useful materials

According to food expert Vilma Juodkazienė, as written in popular literature, onions not only help absorb nutrients, lower blood pressure or kill bacteria, their use in dishes also improves mood.

“It would be difficult to list all the benefits of onions, because there are so many of them. Also, they can be used practically anywhere in the kitchen, and the amount added can be easily adapted to eating habits. The versatility of the product is necessary for to be able to include it often in the diet, and onions really have this property, ”says V. Juodkazienė.

The food expert notes that despite the established habit that onions are a vegetable spice in products, it can be used much more universally.

“Many people would be surprised to taste dishes where the main ingredient is onions. I can assure you that they are not only healthy, but they also have new flavors. So I suggest you try it and try it, you may realize that this vegetable, which has been used in dishes for a long time, can offer much more than you thought until now, ”says the food expert.

The food connoisseur suggests trying 3 courses with a star onion.

Onion pie with cheese

Will need:

• 1 kg of onions
• 0.5 kg puff pastry without yeast
• 250 g of fermented cheese
• 4 eggs
• 4 v. š. sour cream
• 1 pc. bouillon cube
• dill
• Parsley
• Salt pepper

Preparation

Peel the onions and cut them into thin halves. Cook over low heat in the skillet for about 20 minutes until soft. In a bowl beat the eggs, add the sour cream, salt, pepper, dill and parsley. Add the fried onions and the grated fermented cheese. Mix everything together. Place the baking dish with a portion of the thawed dough and distribute the dough. Place the rest of the dough on top of the cake. Bake at 190 degrees for about 40 minutes.

Will need:

• 1 kg of onions
• 250g butter
• 200 g of fermented cheese
• Salt pepper

Preparation

Cut the onions in half and melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the onions and simmer for about 30 minutes. Season with pepper and salt to taste. Pour the boiling onions in 1 liter of water and heat. Cook for 20 minutes. Season the soup with fermented cheese.

Will need:

• 2 kg of onions
• 200g sugar
• 100 ml act
• 60 ml olive oil
• 2 pcs. oranges
• 3 garlic cloves
• Salt pepper

Preparation

Cut the peeled onions into strips. Put them in a frying pan heated in oil. Bake for about 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Chop the garlic and fry for another 15 minutes. Add the sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar and the juice squeezed from the oranges. After stirring, heat over low heat until no liquid remains (may take up to 2 hours). Put the hot onions in jars, just put the lids on, but don’t screw them on. Place a towel in the bottom of the pot and place the jars on it. Fill the pot with water to cover the jars halfway. After boiling the pot, heat for 15-20 minutes. Close the jars well and let cool, covering with a warm blanket.