Pearl onion | |
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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]
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]
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]
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]