Pearl onion
Pearl onions and peas topping a crockpot dish
Species	Allium ampeloprasum var. sectivum or A. ampeloprasum 'Pearl-Onion Group'
Cultivar	'Pearl onion'

The pearl onion (Allium ampeloprasum var. sectivum or A. ampeloprasum 'Pearl-Onion Group'), ^[1] also known as button, baby or silverskin onion in the UK, ^[2] is a close relative of the leek (A. ampeloprasum var. porrum), and may be distinguished from common onions by having only a single storage leaf, ^[3] similar to cloves of garlic. In French they are known as oignon grelot. One English-speaking reference also mentions the term petit poireau antillais. ^[4]

Cultivation and storage

Pearl onions are cultivated mostly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, ^[5] usually in home gardens, ^[1] although formerly on a commercial scale. ^[4] They are mostly used for pickling. ^[6]

The majority of onions grown for pickling are common onions (A. cepa). ^[7] They are grown to a small size suitable for pickling by planting at a high density. ^[8]

Known small white varieties include Crystal Wax, ^[5] or White Bermuda. ^[9] Red varieties are milder in flavour. ^[10] Pearl onions are ready to harvest from seed in 90 days. ^[9] They can be stored for up to a month in a cool, dry, dark place. ^{[10] [11]}

Consumption

Because of its uniquely small size and a taste sweeter than that of a common onion, ^{[2] [9]} it has also been used in dishes ranging from mid-20th-century American casserole dishes such as succotash to sweetly flavored onion relishes in Indian cuisine. It can also be used in stews soups or sautéed (fried) with other vegetables. ^{[12] [2] [13]} It can also be used in cocktails such as "martini standing". ^[5]

Pearl onions are a staple to the cuisine of Northern Europe.^{[ citation needed]} Also in modern Europe they are used as a beautiful flowering plant and in Israel as a cut flower. ^[4]

Pearl onions contain chemical compounds that have health benefits including helping cardiovascular health and stabilize blood sugar levels, and acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. ^{[10] [11][ better source needed]}

Cultural references

Larry Wall's yearly State of the Onion speeches about advancements in Perl programming, an allusion to the many layers of the language, are named as a pun both on the pearl onion and the U.S. president's State of the Union addresses.^{[ citation needed]}

References

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