This article may contain affiliate links and if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
I understand that you can’t seem to get enough of spring onions in your recipes due to the gentle, tasty flavor they add to dishes. You are not alone, we all like the taste of spring onions, but sadly, they are not always in stock when you need them in a pinch since they’re perishable.
This is why you will need other substitutes for spring onions that will give you almost the same flavor, such as red spring onions, shallots, red onions, green onions or scallions, leeks, chives,
The best part is that most of these spring onions alternatives have that crispy new life feeling that is fresh, sweet, and spicy ideal for both raw and cooked preparations.
Let’s learn more about them!
What Is Spring Onion?
Spring onions are for you if you love the taste of onions but can’t stand the smell or pain they can cause. Spring onions are a type of onion that is milder than other types of onions. They are young green onions that have not yet developed their bulb. Spring onions are like baby leeks.
They have long green leaves that grow from a white base and often have a purple tinge. And they have a light and sweet flavor that makes them perfect for adding to salads, stir-fries, sautéed vegetables, meats, and soups.
Spring onions are also known as scallions. They have long green stalks with white bulbs at the end, growing in bunches like flowers.
You can use spring onions in place of regular onions in most recipes. The only difference is that spring onions don’t have a strong taste or smell like regular onions do. This makes them perfect for cooking food for people who don’t like the taste or smell of regular onions.
Best Substitutes for Spring Onions
1. Chives
Chives are a great replacement for spring onion in many recipes. They are easier to find and cheaper, but they have a similar flavor profile that is often used to complement meat or other savory dishes.
Chives have a milder flavor than spring onions, and their taste can be described as “slightly oniony,” which makes them perfect for those who prefer less of an oniony taste.
They also have a more delicate texture than spring onions, making them great for adding to salads or sauces without overpowering the dish.
2. Red Spring Onions
Both spring onions and red spring onions are part of the allium family, including garlic and chives.
They are both green onions that can be eaten raw or cooked, but they have different flavors and textures.
Spring onion is milder than red spring onion, which has a more pungent taste.
While spring onion has a crisp texture when eaten raw, red spring onion has a firmer texture, which makes it work well in raw dishes like salads and salsas because its crunchy texture makes them stand out from other ingredients.
However, both can be used interchangeably in recipes like soups, stews, stir-frys, and sautés.
3. Red Onions
Spring onions are milder than red ones and have a more delicate flavor. They’re often used in salads and side dishes, as they don’t overpower the other ingredients.
You can use red onions to replace spring onions in recipes that call for them, but you should know that they have a stronger taste and will be more noticeable than spring onions.
Also, cooked red onion has a sweeter taste than raw red onion; however, if you cook it too long, it will become bitter-tasting and unpleasant to eat.
However, if you prefer something similar to spring onions’ mild and delicate flavor, you opt for green onions.
4. Shallots
Spring onions and shallots are two very different things. They both belong to the onion family, but they taste and look very different.
Let’s break it down:
While Spring onions are young green onions that have not yet developed their bulb, Shallots, on the other hand, are mature bulbs of the onion plant that have been allowed to grow until they reach a certain size—usually about 1-1/2 inches wide by 2 inches long.
Additionally, Spring onions have a milder flavor than shallots because of their lower concentration of volatile oils (which give off that strong aroma). However, that doesn’t mean they can’t lend some serious punch to a dish!
Shallots, on the other hand, are very aromatic — they have an intense flavor that makes them perfect for stews or sauces where you want to punch up your dish with an extra kick of flavor without overpowering it with an overly sharp aroma like garlic.
Regardless, Shallots can be used raw (in small quantities). But they’re also good roasted or sautéed —their savory flavor adds depth to dishes like vinaigrettes and sauces.
There’s no problem as long as you consider how much stronger your dish will taste when using shallots instead of spring onions (and vice versa).
5. Leeks
Leeks are more versatile than spring onions, and they’re great for various dishes. If you’re looking for something to replace the taste of spring onion in a recipe, leeks are the way to go.
The flavor you get from leeks is comparable to spring onions, but it’s also milder and sweeter. This means that leeks will be able to give you the flavor you want without overpowering your dish.
Leeks also have more nutritional value than spring onions — they’re higher in vitamins A and C and potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium.
They have less sodium than spring onions do, too!
You can use leeks anywhere you normally use spring onions — including stir-fries, soups, and stews.
But they also make a great addition to salads and sandwiches because they hold their crispness even after being cooked or chopped up into smaller pieces (which means they won’t get soggy!).
How Do I Store My Spring Onions?
Spring onions should be stored in a cool, dark place like your pantry or fridge — but not too cold or damp!
The ideal temperature is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 C). If you put them in the fridge, make sure they’re in an airtight container, so they don’t dry out too much while they wait for you to cook up something delicious!
What Are Spring Onions Used For?
Spring onions are a great springtime food, and they’re also an excellent addition to most dishes. Here are some ways you can use them:
- In Salads: Spring onions add a fresh, crunchy texture to salads. They’re especially good in salads that contain other crunchy ingredients like carrots or cucumbers.
- In Sandwiches: Spring onions go well with bread, so they’re a great sandwich addition. You can add them raw or cooked; either way, they’ll add flavor and crunch when you include them in your sandwich!
- As Garnish: If you want to give your dish some color without adding extra calories or fat, try using spring onions as a garnish! Just chop them up into small pieces and sprinkle some on top of whatever you’re cooking—it’ll make it look fancy without costing extra calories or fat grams!
- In Soups: When used sparingly, spring onions can add a lot of flavor to soup without making it taste too onion-y (which can be overpowering). So if you want to add some extra flavor but don’t want the flavor of your soup overpowered by the taste of onion.
How Long Does It Take For Spring Onion To Grow?
Spring onions are a quick-growing vegetable and can be harvested as soon as large enough to eat.
You can harvest the entire plant at once, or you can harvest the crop one onion at a time when they reach a height of 6 inches and have developed two sets of leaves.
But it usually takes eight weeks for spring onion to mature!
Can I Eat Spring Onion Leaves?
Yes, you can eat spring onion leaves!
Spring onions are a type of onion that is grown from bulbs. The leaves of the spring onion plant are edible and have a flavor similar to scallions (also known as green onions).
Spring onion leaves are typically used in cooking, but they can also be eaten raw.
Conclusion
The best substitutes available for spring onions are red onions and green onions. Each has a different flavor, but the result is similar if you know how to use them properly.
If you have some green onions on your hands and need to use them immediately, you should use them as the main ingredient in the dish.
To make the taste more enjoyable, add more onions while cooking or garnishing the dish.
