What is spring onion, hara pyaz?

Wash the complete bunch thoroughly. Separate the spring onion white bulb from the green stalk. Peel the spring onion white as required. Using a sharp knife, slice it from the top to remove the stem and then cut it into half from the centre vertically. Now, make thin/ thick slices from each halve lengthwise. Holding all the slices together, chop at regular intervals breadthwise approximately ¼ inch in diameter, although the chopped food doesn't need to be exactly the same size. If the recipe calls for the ingredients to be "roughly chopped," make the pieces slightly larger.

This is combination of both the whites and the greens. So, wash the complete bunch thoroughly. Separate the spring onion white bulb from the green stalk. Peel the spring onion white as required. Using a sharp knife, slice it from the top to remove the stem and then cut it into half from the centre vertically. Now, make thin/ thick slices from each halve lengthwise. Holding all the slices together, chop at regular intervals breadthwise approximately ¼ inch in diameter, although the chopped food doesn't need to be exactly the same size. If the recipe calls for the ingredients to be "roughly chopped," make the pieces slightly larger. Next make long slits of desired thickness in the spring onion greens vertically. Holding all the pieces together, chop at regular intervals breadthwise approximately ¼ inch in diameter, although the chopped food doesn't need to be exactly the same size. The combination of whites and greens is either used in salad or to make vegetable.

To cut the spring onions diagonally, clean, wash and place the spring onion whites and greens separately on a chopping board. For the spring onion whites, cut the tip of the onions and discard it. Peel the spring onion white and place it on a chopping board. Make a series of parallel cuts diagonally using a sharp knife. Likewise, for the spring onion greens, place 2-3 spring onion greens together on a chopping board and similarly make a series of parallel diagonal cuts. These diagonally cut spring onions are often used as toppings and also they give prepared dish a nice look.

Wash the complete bunch thoroughly. Separate the spring onion white bulb from the green stalk. Peel the spring onion white as required. Using a sharp knife, slice it from the top to remove the stem and then cut it into half from the centre vertically. Now, make thin/ thick slices from each halve lengthwise. Slice them thinly or thickly as the recipe requirement and these can be used as a garnish or for salad.

This is combination of both the whites and the greens. So, wash the complete bunch thoroughly. Separate the spring onion white bulb from the green stalk. Peel the spring onion white as required. Using a sharp knife, slice it from the top to remove the stem and then cut it into half from the centre vertically. Now, make thin/ thick slices from each halve lengthwise. Next make long slits of desired thickness in the spring onion greens vertically. Holding all the pieces together, chop at regular intervals breadthwise approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter.

Spring onion white is young shoots of bulb onions, and are milder tasting than large bulb onions. They have a small, not fully developed white bulb end with long green stalks. Both parts are edible. Often eaten raw, but you can also grill or sauté them.

" Use a very sharp knife and always cut the onions while standing; that way your eyes will be as far away as possible. If cutting onions really makes you cry, consider wearing glasses or goggles.
" Spring onions are great in stir fries, salads
" Spring Onion has been used as an ingredient in various dishes for thousands
of years by many cultures around the world.
" Spring Onions can be eaten raw, cooked, fried, dried or roasted
" They can be used much like green onions, except you just need to remember that they are slightly stronger.
" They are wonderful sliced very thin and sautéed with fresh spring and summer vegetables and stir- fries.
" They can be used raw, but their mature bulb is slightly more pungent than green onions. Use with a light hand in fresh green salads where more delicate flavors can be overpowered
" To prepare, trim the roots away and strip off any extra outer leaves before leaving whole or slicing. Some recipes call for the white part only, but their delicate, green tops have a milder, more subtle appeal.
" Although usually enjoyed raw in salads, they're often added to stir-fries, omelettes, and dressings.
" When chopped, they don't take long to soften in olive oil or butter - around a minute. Cook them over a gentle heat for best results.
" Try combining them in the salad bowl with orange segments, avocadoes or crisp fennel slices.
" They can be diced or chopped and added to any dish
" They can also be grilled and eaten plain, or roasted and served as a garnish or side vegetable.
" Some people enjoy eating spring onions straight with a little bit of salt, although this activity is not for the faint of heart.
" They can also be caramelized in savory tarts to bring out their natural sweetness and complex flavors.
" Spring Onion Curry is ideal to be served with chapati, roti or puri.
" Combine chopped onions, tomatoes, avocado and jalapeno for an all-in-one guacamole salsa dip.
" To perk up plain rice, sprinkle some green onions, also known as scallions, and sesame seeds on top.
" Sautéed chopped onions are so versatile that they can be added to most any vegetable dish.
" Enjoy a classic Italian salad-sliced onion, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil.
" Spring onion with besan is commonly prepared by Maharashtrians and is an extremely delicious dish.
" Diced scallions are often used in soup, noodle and seafood dishes, and in sauces
" It is very easy to cook and will not take you than ten minutes to prepare.

How to store spring onion, hara pyaz

Remove any rubber bands or damaged leaves, wrap in a plastic bag and store in the vegetable crisper section of the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store in the refrigerator and use promptly-they are very perishable. Keep green onions away from food that absorb odors.

Nutritional Information of Spring Onions

1 Cup of chopped spring onion is about 54 grams
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.

Energy - 14 calories
Protein - 0.9 g
Carbohydrate – 3 g
Fat – 0.1 g
Fiber – 1.3 g

Vitamins:
0.04 mg of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) = 2.7% of RDA ( (about 1.2 to 1.6 mg for men)
0.07 mg of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) = 4% of RDA (about 1.4 to 1.9 mg for men)
24.3 mg of Vitamin C = 60.8 % of RDA (about 40 mg)
7.4 mcg of Folate (Vitamin B9) = 7.4% of RDA (about 100 mcg)
162 mcg of Vitamin A = 3.4% of RDA (about 4800 mcg)

Minerals:
32.4 mg of Calcium = 3.2% of RDA (about 1000 mg)
1 mg of Iron = 5% of RDA (about 20 mg)
10.8 mg of Magnesium = 3.1% of RDA (about 350 mg)
17.8 mg of Phosphorus = 3% of RDA (about 600 mg)
138.2 mg of Potassium = 2.9% of RDA (about 4700 g)

Health benefits of spring onion, hara pyaz

1. Spring Onions Improve Immunity : The high levels of vitamin C in spring onions is an immune boosting vitamin. It helps build  white blood cells (WBC) to fight against infection. Thus they exhibit anti-bacterial properties and help us combat common diseases like cold, cough and flu. What you need to be careful about this nutrient is to cut or chop it and whip up a dish immediately and consume it. It’s highly volatile so some amount is lost if kept for too long on exposure to air. Salads like Sprouts Spring Onion and Tomato Salad, Veg Salad with Spring Onion Honey and Lemon Dressing and Lettuce and Bean Salad are the best ways to benefit from  vitamin C.

2. Maintains Blood Pressure : The sulfur compounds in spring onions are known to keep blood pressure under check. Thus those suffering from High Blood Pressure can look forward to adding this ingredient to their basket while shopping. Just beware not to go overboard with the usage of salt, when cooking using this vegetable and in general for hypertension.

Click here to know more about the 8 Health Benefits of Spring Onions.

Try Recipes using Spring Onion

• Spring Onion & Cheese Sandwich
• Spring Onion and Curd Dip
• Spring Onion and Olive Thin Crust Pizza
• Spring Onion and Red Capsicum Pasta
• Spring Onion Cakes
• Spring Onion Chutney
• Spring Onion Delight
• Spring Onion Dip
• Spring Onion Pakoda
• Spring Onion Parathas

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