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| Pearl onion | |
|---|---|
 Pearl onions and peas topping a crockpot dish | |
| Species | Allium ampeloprasum var. sectivum or A. ampeloprasum 'Pearl-Onion Group' |
| Cultivar | 'Pearl onion' |
The pearl onion (Allium ampeloprasum var. sectivum or A. ampeloprasum 'Pearl-Onion Group'),[1] also known as button, baby or silverskin onions in the UK,[2] or creamers in the US,[3] is a close relative of the leek (A. ampeloprasum var. porrum), and may be distinguished from common onions by having only a single storage leaf,[4] similar to cloves of garlic. In French they are known as oignon grelot. One English-speaking reference also mentions the term petit poireau antillais.[5]
Pearl onions are cultivated mostly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy,[6] usually in home gardens,[1] although formerly on a commercial scale.[5] They are mostly used for pickling.[7]
The majority of onions grown for pickling are common onions (A. cepa).[8] They are grown to a small size suitable for pickling by planting at a high density.[9]
Known small white varieties include Crystal Wax,[6] or White Bermuda.[10] Red varieties are milder in flavour.[11] Pearl onions are ready to harvest from seed in 90 days.[10] They can be stored for up to a month in a cool, dry, dark place.[11][12]
Because of its uniquely small size and a taste sweeter than that of a common onion,[2][10] it has also been used in dishes ranging from mid-20th-century American casserole dishes such as succotash to sweetly flavored onion relishes in Indian cuisine. It can also be used in stews soups or sautéed (fried) with other vegetables.[3][2][13] It can also be used in cocktails such as "martini standing".[6]
Pearl onions are a staple to the cuisine of Northern Europe.[citation needed] Also in modern Europe they are used as a beautiful flowering plant and in Israel as a cut flower.[5]
Pearl onions contain chemical compounds that have health benefits including helping cardiovascular health and stabilize blood sugar levels, and acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.[11][12]
Larry Wall's yearly serious State of the Onion speeches about advancements in Perl programming, an allusion to the many layers of the language, are named as a pun both on the pearl onion and the US presidents' State of the Union addresses.[citation needed]
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By: Wikipedia.org
Edited: 2021-06-18 14:29:34
Source: Wikipedia.org
