You are supposed to eat two to three cups of vegetables every day. For many of us, this can be hard because we either do not care for vegetables or we do not have certain veggies on hand to go in the dishes we are cooking. A nice onion tends to be a good vegetable that can go into many different dishes. If you do not like big onions, you can try spring onions, but you may not be able to find many of them.
Spring onions can be a great option to include in many of your meals. If you do not have any spring onions, there are many alternatives that you can use that work well in your dishes as well as provide similar health benefits. Some common substitutes for spring onions are shallots, scallions, leeks, and chives.
Continue reading to learn more about spring onions. Also, continue reading to learn about 8 different substitutes that you can use when you run out of spring onions.
Can Any Onion be a Spring Onion?
Spring onions tend to be very young onions. Since this is the main quality of spring onions, many different types of onions can be considered spring onions.
The term “spring onion” is not directly attached to a particular species of onion. It is primarily used to describe baby onions that still have the green stalk and are small in size. Therefore, any onion can be a spring onion.
What are Spring Onions?
Spring onions are a type of onion that is planted at the end of the summer. This allows for the onion to grow during the autumn and winter seasons. The onion is then ready to harvest once spring comes around.
Spring onions are a type of young onion. These onions are, however, more mature compared to green onions and scallions. Spring onions also have a stronger flavor compared to green onions and scallions.
Despite having a stronger flavor than green onions and scallions, spring onions have a much gentler flavor compared to regular onions. The bulb of the spring onion is developed and round, but it is not left in the ground as long as regular onions are.
You can eat spring onions both in their raw and their cooked forms. You can eat both the bulb of the spring onion as well as the long, slender green tops. Despite mainly being harvested in the spring, spring onions can be grown all-year round. It is very easy to grow spring onions. You can grow spring onions either from seeds or by using cuttings of other spring onions.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Spring Onions?
Despite being able to grow spring onions all year round, it can be hard to find spring onions when you want to cook a meal that includes them. Luckily, there are many different alternatives that you can use when you do not have any spring onions.
When looking for a substitute for spring onions, you want something that tastes similar to spring onions and has a similar texture to the spring onions. This is to keep the dish you are cooking similar to how it would be prepared if you had spring onions.
Below you will find 8 great substitutes for spring onions that you can use when you have no spring onions.
Red Spring Onions
Red spring onions are very similar to regular spring onions. The primary difference between them has to do with their coloring. Normal spring onions are a type of green onion. The red spring onions have a distinct red coloring.
If you choose to use red spring onions as your substitute for spring onions, you can find them in stock at grocery stores mainly during the months of February until around mid-June. You can use these onions with meat, pasta, and salads. This substitute will provide a similar nutritional value to the regular spring onion.
Shallots
One of the best substitutes for spring onions is the shallot. Shallots are a type of onion that is very similar to the spring onion. This substitute is known for having a mellow onion flavoring, but the onions actually grow in a similar fashion to garlic. They grow in clusters.
When it comes to the taste of a shallot, it has been found that the flavoring falls in between the taste of an onion and the taste of garlic. Shallots have a taste that is mild and sweet. Shallots also have a lot of nutritional value, so it may be a good idea to include shallots in your recipes.
Scallions
Scallions are a type of onion that is most commonly confused with spring onions. Scallions look identical to spring onions. The primary difference between the two is age.
Spring onions are much more mature compared to scallions. The bulb of the spring onion is more round and developed, while the bulb of the scallion is not. Scallions also have a similar nutritional value compared to spring onions. Since it is easy to confuse the two, scallions tend to make the best substitute for spring onions.
Leeks
A leek is often referred to as a bigger spring onion. In terms of looks, the leek and the spring onion look similar, but the spring onion tends to be much smaller than the leek.
Before using the leek in a recipe, you want to make sure you wash the vegetable thoroughly. This is to get any dirt off the vegetable. This is a good practice to do with any produce you buy or pick from your garden. It is important to note that leeks have a garlicky taste. Luckily, this taste will mellow once the leek has been cooked.
Chives
Unlike other substitutes on this list, chives are not a vegetable. Chives are flowering herbs. Chives tend to work best as a substitute for spring onion when used as a garnish.
You can use chives as a substitute for spring onions when cooking. Whether you use the chives as a garnish or to incorporate more flavor into the dish, you want to use an equal ratio of 1:1, so for every one measurement of spring onion that you would use in a recipe, you want to use that same measurement of chives.
Onion Powder
When you have no onions on hand, you can use onion powder as a substitute. You want to be careful when using onion powder as the taste can be stronger than if you had used an onion, but it is also possible that the taste is much milder, so you want to assess the taste of your onion powder before using it in a recipe.
You also want to add some sugar when using onion powder as the powder does not have the sweetness that the original onion would have.
Coriander
Coriander works great as a replacement for spring onions when used as a garnish. Coriander can help add color to your dish. The taste of the coriander will not clash with the dish you are cooking, so it can make a great garnish when you have no spring onions.
Red Onions
Red onions can be another great substitute for spring onions. Some may not consider using red onions due to the deep red coloring of the onion, but these onions work well as a substitute for spring onions.
Red onions have a mild flavoring, and they are mainly used in cooking and in salads. When grilled red onions can be very tasty. Red onions are also the easiest substitute for spring onions that you can find. They are often sold in grocery stores all year round.
Final Thoughts
Spring onions are an onion that is planted in the summer and harvested in the spring. They tend to be smaller than regular onions, but they are used in many recipes. You can use spring onions as an ingredient or as a garnish. One of the best substitutes for spring onions are scallions. Many find it difficult to distinguish between the two.
