Spring onions, also known as salad onions, are the kind of thing I get really excited about. Sold in small purple or white bunches, spring onions are just young onions with their greens. More delicate in texture and flavor than their full-size counterparts, they’re bracing and delightfully green-tasting.
Spring onions can be served braised or sauteed on their own, or as an accompaniment to other early spring produce like cabbage or collards. Keeping with the adage that what grows together, goes together, spring onions are also a nice complement to asparagus later in the spring season.
Sourcing Spring Alliums
Along with spring onions, spring ushers in a host of unctuous green alliums and shoots. Garlic chives, regular chives, chive blossoms, ramps, green garlic, and garlic scapes all get a brief and glorious moment to shine. Unfortunately, most of these delicacies can be hard to source. Chives and spring onions are widely available, while garlic chives, chive blossoms, green garlic and ramps are usually found only at the farmer’s market. Keep an eye out or ask a trusted grower about their harvest schedule.
Braised Cabbage with Spring Onions
Since today is St. Paddy’s Day, I had to lead with this lovely braised cabbage recipe. This oven-braised cabbage recipe takes a couple hours in the oven, but the tender and deeply flavorful cabbage is well worth the wait.
Baked Fish Tacos with Charred Green Onion-Avocado Sauce
I’m fudging this one a bit since it’s technically a green – not spring – onion recipe. But spring onions would lend themselves perfectly to the charred onion and avocado sauce. As for the tacos, they are perfect and delicious, and I highly recommend making them.
Fettuccine with Roasted Spring Onions and Tinned Sardines
Open a bottle of rose and enjoy this simple dinner made with roasted spring onions tossed with lemon, Parm, sardines, herbs, and nutty toasted breadcrumbs.
Spring Onion Soup
Consider this a soothing tonic for whatever ails you. Charred spring onions are blended with tender potatoes and flavorful broth for a velvety finish. Add olive oil-drizzled toast points, and you have the perfect rainy day meal.