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White Onions
Posted by networkn
White Onions September 03, 2018 02:32AM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 319 |
Hi.
Wondering if NZ produces White Onions commercially? I tried to contact the Onion association no response.
The ones I have seen (usually at xmas time) are USA (Hawaii Usually), but I'd like to source locally if possible and more times of the year (I prefer them in almost every instance to brown/yellow onions).
Wondering if NZ produces White Onions commercially? I tried to contact the Onion association no response.
The ones I have seen (usually at xmas time) are USA (Hawaii Usually), but I'd like to source locally if possible and more times of the year (I prefer them in almost every instance to brown/yellow onions).
Re: White Onions September 07, 2018 01:58AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 407 |
Re: White Onions September 18, 2018 06:25AM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 319 |
Re: White Onions September 19, 2018 11:08PM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 407 |
I shop at New World Kumeu (Auckland), I sometimes shop at Albany too so I will keep a look out. I imagine places like Farro or up our way Boric's would have them too. I take it that your NW didn't have them last week when mine did - I would have thought they would have a central supply to all the stores rather than local but who knows?
Re: White Onions September 20, 2018 01:54AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 283 |
I bought some a few weeks ago and wouldn't do so again. Several of them appeared sound on the outside but were rotting from the inside. Two which were sound I used and they were very mild (almost absent) in added flavour to the finished dish. Jamie Oliver's Friday night Meatloaf...which I highly recommend!
Re: White Onions September 20, 2018 12:48PM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 407 |
I don't think they are really a cooking onion, they're more like the Vidalia onion which is very very mild and is used raw, in salads or barely cooked. I love white onion but I have never used it in cooked dishes - too expensive for a start On the issue of being iffy inside, maybe its the weather .... I've had quite a few brown onions in the last few weeks have a few petals going rotten about halfway down. They look fine on the outside then when you cut them open they are starting to go bad.
Re: White Onions September 20, 2018 01:03PM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 407 |
I love onions and I wish we had more selection in vege shops and supermarkets. A couple of years ago I went to some length to find the little raw onions about the size of a large marble to use in Boeuf Bourguignon and Coq au Vin. Overseas they are sold like frozen peas in the supermarket but here we can only get them pickled in jars. There is a fellow in the south island who grows all sort of varieties including those little ones and his wife reads this forum but unfortunately they only do smallish amounts and sell them at farmers markets and they have quite a short shelf life apparently. Last year my son in law grew some for us but we only got enough for one decent dish each. Like heirloom tomatoes they are a beautiful product and I would love to see more variety available and I would pay good money for the privilege.
Re: White Onions September 20, 2018 11:33PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 283 |
Interesting, Danube, thank you for all that above. I didn't have any other onions on hand when I made Jamie's Meatloaf - I tend to be an impulsive cook - I didn't have fennel or mozzarella either, but improvised and it was so good that I will do it again and stick more faithfully to his recipe. I feel as you do about variety and would love to see more exciting potatoes available as well as onions. I mostly avoid nightshade vegetables so when I decide to indulge I want them to be really delicious.
Re: White Onions September 21, 2018 02:45AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 3,428 |
Stephanie39 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
...would love to see
> more exciting potatoes available as well as
> onions. I mostly avoid nightshade vegetables so
> when I decide to indulge I want them to be really
> delicious.
I agree. We grew our own potatoes for the first time last year, Pink Fir Apple, Jersey Benne and Agria, and I was astounded by how delicious they were when fresh from the ground. I normally eat only very small quantities of potato and not very often, but these were so delicious that we were having them every day (and I put on weight...). If you have any space it's well worth while planting some, even if it's just one plant in a bucket.
-------------------------------------------------------
...would love to see
> more exciting potatoes available as well as
> onions. I mostly avoid nightshade vegetables so
> when I decide to indulge I want them to be really
> delicious.
I agree. We grew our own potatoes for the first time last year, Pink Fir Apple, Jersey Benne and Agria, and I was astounded by how delicious they were when fresh from the ground. I normally eat only very small quantities of potato and not very often, but these were so delicious that we were having them every day (and I put on weight...). If you have any space it's well worth while planting some, even if it's just one plant in a bucket.
Re: White Onions September 21, 2018 04:40AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 283 |
I am envious TPANDAV. Pink Fir Apple were on my mind when I wrote my post. Where, I wonder, does the name come from? I've only read about them in my Gourmet Traveller mags. Pine cone shape perhaps? Many years ago when I lived in Wellington I used to make an annual pilgrimage to Foxton to buy Foxton Reds. Very knobbly and full of eyes but wonderful. Dense waxy yellow flesh that was utterly delicious.
Re: White Onions September 21, 2018 04:46AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 3,428 |
I haven’t been able to find out where the name comes from, other than the obvious link to the pinkish skin. It’s a French variety from the mid 19th century.
I had previously only eaten them in Australia, but a couple of years ago we found some for sale at the Tokoroa Community Gardens, snapped them up and kept a few to plant. They are just gorgeous.
I had previously only eaten them in Australia, but a couple of years ago we found some for sale at the Tokoroa Community Gardens, snapped them up and kept a few to plant. They are just gorgeous.
Re: White Onions September 21, 2018 06:57AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 407 |
The potatoes sound lovely, if only we could buy them, it seems we all need to get into the garden! Networkn I bought my vegetables from a local veg shop Kumeu Gardens today and they had white onions for $3.99 a kilo the same price as they had the red. (better quality than the NW ones too) I asked the owner if they were available all year round and she said they're not always at the markets but mostly and they try to keep them in all the time if they can.
Re: White Onions October 01, 2018 12:44AM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 319 |
Re: White Onions October 01, 2018 10:18PM |
Admin Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 7,844 |
I read an interesting tip today about storing onions. Use a leg cut from an old, clean pair of panty-hose. Drop an onion in and tie a knot above it. Do this with all your onions, tying a knot between them. Hang it in a light, airy place and when you need an onion, cut the bottom one off just below the knot. Keeping onions in the dark encourages them to sprout.
I think it was in the NZ Herald, an article called 'Throw Away Your Fruit Bowl'.
I think it was in the NZ Herald, an article called 'Throw Away Your Fruit Bowl'.
Re: White Onions October 01, 2018 10:35PM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 2,430 |
Re: White Onions October 01, 2018 10:37PM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 5,392 |
Re: White Onions October 03, 2018 06:07AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 653 |
Danube, are the onions you mention pickling onions? They have them often at Fruit World in Auckland (Greenlane) where I shop. I actually made pickled onions from them this year, and have used them before in the dishes you mention. What I would really love to see are shallots at a more reasonable price. They have a lovely flavour, but $10 a kilo is too much for me.
Re: White Onions October 03, 2018 06:44AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 3,660 |
We grew shallots for the first time a couple of years ago (always grown onions and spring onions but not shallots....) and were surprised at how easy they are to grow and the good amount you get, the lovely flavour, etc, and now grow them each year and use them kind of like small onions......delicious in the oven.....
Re: White Onions October 04, 2018 02:05AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 653 |
Re: White Onions October 04, 2018 10:02PM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 5,705 |
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