Food Facts: Shallots

So I have about a week and a half of great new dishes I have made, but have not started to post them til now, cuz I lost my camera..... :( But I found it today!! Woo Hoo!

Time to play catch up!

Ok. Shallots.

Shallots appear next to the onions and garlic in the grocery store, but according to some it is its own vegetable. As far as I am concerned its really just an onion that is sweet, milder and easier to work with than an onion. "Shallots are much favored by chefs because of their firm texture and sweet, aromatic, yet pungent, flavor." (source: wiki)

Also, they grow just like garlic, with clusters of cloves.

I used them in the Orzo Pasta dish and they complimented the other flavors well, despite being raw. I really enjoy the depth these onions give my dishes.

Word of caution, they can be difficult to find in some grocery stores. Often I can find them by the onions, garlic, potatoes or fresh ginger. If they aren't there, ask a clerk or find a better grocery store.

Yay for new ingredients!

always in the kitchen,

Mel