Red or Purple Onions (Fresh)

Ingredient Name: Red or Purple Onions (Fresh)

Traditional Chinese Name: 洋蔥 (yáng cōng)

What is this?

  • The onion is a vegetable
  • It is virtually found in dishes and recipes in every culture around the world
  • Onions come in a variety of sizes (small ones are called shallots) and colours (like the red or yellow onion)
  • This type of onion has a mild to sweet flavor and its skin and meat and tinged with red or purple color
  • Onions are durable vegetables and will store for up to 1 month in the fridge (in fact, the also grow green onions out of the tops!)

How do I prepare it?

  • Peel the dried outer skins of the onions until you reach the meaty portions (while discarding the outer layer)
  • For soup usage, slice into large bite-sized cubes

Where can I buy this?

  • You can buy fresh onions in any supermarket
  • They can be found usually alongside white onions

What is the cost

  • A bag of roughly 10 medium-sized yellow onions cost around $1.50 – $2.00 CAD
  • Other onions (red or spanish) are usually sold individually and can cost more

Any benefits?

  • Onions are a good source of antioxidants
  • It is said that onions are beneficial to women (especially those going through menopause or are at risk for osteoporosis) by destroying osteoclasts so they do not break down bone
  • Onions contain sulfides (similar to those found in garlic) that may help lower blood pressure
  • Onions are highly versitile in growth.  They can be grown virtually anywhere (even your own backyard!)

Any precautions?

  • Excess consumption can lead to stomach distress and irritation which can result in nausea and/or diarrhea
  • Onions secrete an acid, which leads to the stinging of eyes when the onion cells are cut.  To avoid this, you can either cut onions submerged in water, under running water or semi-frozen

 

Onions do add significant flavour to soups and they become soft and tasty when boiled over a period of time.  I am a big fan of onions, whether its raw, cooked, diced, sliced or boiled.  A must have in every kitchen.  Red or purple onions in particular also add a nice color the soup if used in large amounts!

Chopped red or purple onions


Onion and Corn in Chicken Soup

Soup Name: Onion and Corn in Chicken Soup

Chinese Name 洋蔥 玉米湯 (yáng cōng yù mǐ tāng)

Introduction:

This soup creation is courtesy of my mother.  She was here visiting Hong Kong and made this soup for me and it was absolutely delicious!  Who would have thought that onions and corn mixed in the simplest of combination would be so tasty, naturally sweet and easy to drink?  I think it is also the addition of the lily bulbs that created the rich, sweetness of the soup.  I recommend all families try this soup.  It is neutral for all to drink, contains all natural ingredients and is super, duper easy to make!  I also kept this soup over a period of 2 days and found the longer it sat, the sweeter it became – just be sure to boil your soup each time and when not drinking it, boil it and keep it covered as not to let any bacteria in if keeping overnight.

What Ingredients are required?

How do I prepare it?

  1. Start boiling your soup water
  2. Boil another pot of water to blanch the chicken
  3. Prepare chicken and blanch in boiling water
  4. Rinse onions, corn and lily bulb and cut into edible sizes
  5. When soup water boils, add all the ingredients together
  6. Boil on high for 30 minutes and reduce to boil for another 30 minutes
  7. Serve and enjoy!

Any benefits?

  • Neutral soup for all to drink
  • Naturally sweet
  • Great source of antioxidants and source of sulfides which help reduce blood pressure

Any precautions?

  • Lily bulbs will disintegrate over a period of time and melt into the soup, naturally thickening it – take caution with small children when this does happen
  • Otherwise, no known precautions – so enjoy!

Onions (Fresh)

Ingredient Name: Onions (Fresh)
Traditional Chinese Name: 洋蔥 (yáng cōng)
What is this?
  • The onion is a vegetable
  • It is virtually found in dishes and recipes in every culture around the world
  • Onions come in a variety of sizes (small ones are called shallots) and colours (like the red or yellow onion)
  • Onions are durable vegetables and will store for up to 1 month in the fridge

How do I prepare it?

  • Peel the dried outer skins of the onions until you reach the white portions
  • For soup usage, slice into large bite-sized cubes

Where can I buy this?

  • You can buy fresh onions in any supermarket
  • Maybe you can go knock on your neighbour’s door and see if they have any to spare!

What is the cost?

  • A bag of roughly 10 medium-sized yellow onions cost around $1.50 – $2.00 CAD
  • Other onions (red or spanish) are usually sold individually and can cost more

Any benefits?

  • Onions are a good source of antioxidants
  • It is said that onions are beneficial to women (especially those going through menopause or are at risk for osteoporosis) by destroying osteoclasts so they do not break down bone
  • Onions contain sulfides (similar to those found in garlic) that may help lower blood pressure
  • Onions are highly versitile in growth.  They can be grown virtually anywhere (even your own backyard!)

Any precautions?

  • Excess consumption can lead to stomach distress and irritation which can result in nausea and/or diarrhea
  • Onions secrete an acid, which leads to the stinging of eyes when the onion cells are cut.  To avoid this, you can either cut onions submerged in water, under running water or semi-frozen

Onions do add significant flavour to soups and they become soft and tasty when boiled over a period of time.  I am a big fan of onions, whether its raw, cooked, diced, sliced or boiled.  A must have in every kitchen.