Red Scallions
Red scallions bring a pop of color and a subtle onion flavor to the table. With their purple-red base, long crisp stalks, and mild flavor, they’re a useful ingredient in the kitchen.
What Red Scallions?
Red scallions, also called red spring onions, are a younger stage of red onions harvested before the bulb fully develops. They look like green onions with a vibrant reddish-purple base and long green stalks. Their flavor is milder and sweeter than a mature onion, which makes them easy to enjoy raw or cooked.
Onions go through several growth stages: from slender shoots to leafy scallions, then into bulb formation as the plant matures. The bulb is essentially the plant’s storage unit, holding energy and nutrients so it can survive dormancy and sprout again the following season. As the bulb develops, the sugars become more concentrated and the sulfur compounds intensify, giving mature onions their sharper bite.
Harvesting early as scallions means you get a crisp, delicate onion with a gentler flavor, while still retaining many of the nutrients found in the full-grown bulb. In fact, because scallions are harvested young, they’re especially rich in water, vitamin C, and protective plant compounds like flavonoids and anthocyanins (responsible for that striking red-purple color).
How to Prepare Red Scallions
Red scallions are simple to use and require little prep: just trim the root end and any wilted greens, then slice or chop as needed. Both the white-to-red bulb and the green tops are edible.
Raw: Add thin slices to salads, tacos, or on top of a baked potato.
Cooked: Sauté with butter and herbs as a quick side dish; toss into an omelet for color and flavor; or sprinkle over fish before you bake it.
Grilled or roasted: Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and cook whole in the oven or on the grill until charred for a sweet, and a little smoky side dish.
Red Scallion Health Benefits
Rich in antioxidants: The red pigment (anthocyanins) adds extra anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting properties.
Support immunity: High in vitamin C to help your body fight off illness.
Good for bones: Vitamin K plays a role in bone strength and blood clotting.
Heart-healthy: Sulfur compounds and quercetin can help regulate blood pressure and protect cardiovascular health.
Red Scallion Facts
Red scallions are sweeter and milder than regular onions, making them a great option for raw dishes.
Both the bulbs and greens are edible so nothing goes to waste.
Their red-purple hue comes from anthocyanins, the same plant compounds found in blueberries.
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