Veg hero of the month.
Spring onions
The clue’s in the name – these sharp, fresh essentials sing of the new season. But they’re not just for finishing a dish or throwing into salads, you know...
RECIPES, FOOD STYLING AND ILLUSTRATIONS POLLYANNA COUPLAND
PHOTOGRAPHS INDIA WHILEY-MORTON
WHAT IS A SPRING ONION?
Also known as scallions or green onions (as in the groovy 1960s track by Booker T & The MGs), they’re basically regular onions before they’re fully grown. Unlike mature onions, you can eat the green tops too, while the small white bulb has a milder flavour than that of a mature onion.
HOW COME YOU CAN BUY THEM ALL YEAR ROUND?
The first British ones come out in early spring (hence the name), though they can be planted later too and nurtured in hothouses. If you’re buying the onions in winter, take a look at the label and you’ll find they’re either from places like Thailand or Egypt. For seasonal, sustainable British produce, they’re never better than now.
ARE THEY THE SAME AS A SALAD ONION?
No. Salad onions are left longer to mature, so they have larger bulbs and tend to come in a little later in the year.