| 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 onions 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]
Larry Wall's yearly serious 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 US presidents' State of the Union addresses.[citation needed]
