Botanical name:
Allium cepa Linn.
Family names:
Liliaceae.
Indian namesare as
follows:
Hindi, Punjabi and
Urdu:Piyaz
Onions are the
indispensable
vegetable, the
strong (yet sweet)
cornerstone of
modern cooking, not
just in our culture
but around the
world. Whether it's
a soup, stew,
stir-fry, salad or
sauce, chances are
the recipe includes
onions or garlic
(very likely both)
or one of their
relatives. These
members of the
Allium genus (part
of the lily family)
don't just add
flavour, they add
richness and
complexity.
Description
The onion is
believed to have
originated in Asia,
though it is likely
that onions may have
been growing wild on
every continent.
Dating back to 3500
BC, onions were one
of the few foods
that did not spoil
during the winter
months. Our
ancestors must have
recognized the
vegetable's
durability and began
growing onions for
food.
The onion became
more than just food
after arriving in
Egypt. The ancient
Egyptians worshipped
the onion, believing
that its spherical
shape and concentric
rings symbolized
eternity. Of all the
vegetables that had
their images created
from precious metals
by Egyptian artists,
only the onion was
made out of gold.
Today, onions are
used in a variety of
dishes and rank
sixth among the
world's leading
vegetable crops.
Onions not only
provide flavor; they
also provide
health-promoting
phytochemicals as
well as nutrients.
Plant
Description and
Cultivation
A hardy biennial but
cultivated as an
annual. Although the
bulbous plant with
its long-bladed
leaves has many
varieties of shape
and colour, it is so
familiar that it is
not necessary to add
to what has already
been said under
Spice Description.
Onion is a common
kitchen-garden
plant. It is
propagated by seeds
or sets. Soil: Well
drained, light loam
that has been
manured. Sow:
Mid-February through
March in shallow
drills 30cm (l2in)
apart. Thin
seedlings to 5-10cm
(2-4in) apart. Plant:
March-April 15cm
(6in) apart in rows
30cm (l2in) apart. Aspect: Very
sunny. Harvest:
Salad onions when
ready and other
onions when leaves
turn yellow. Lift
and leave along rows
to dry; then store
in a cool dry place.
Pyaz
or Kanda (Onion) in
Other Languages
Assamese
Piyaz
Marathi
Kanda
Bengali
Penyaz
Oriya
Piyaza
Gujarati
Dunzari
Sanskrit
Palandu
Kannada
Nirulli
Sindhi
Dungari
Konkani
Kandu
Tamil
Vengayam, Irulli
Malayalam
Bawa
Telugu
Nirulli
Culinary
uses
Onion is a basic
flavouring in the
kitchen. It is used
as a vegetable, or
as a spice to bring
out the flavour of
other dishes without
overpowering them.
It often accompanies
meat - especially
mince and meat
dishes such as
shepherds pie and
meat loaf which
would be insipid
without it. Onion is
also widely used in
soups, pickles and
cooked vegetable
dishes, sauces,
hearty casseroles,
and bean and lentil
dishes. It is a
common ingredient in
marinades, and an
onion studded with
cloves is often a
main flavouring in
stocks and
courts-bouillons.
There are many
classic recipes
featuring onion
including such
familiar dishes as
tripe and onions,
steak and onions,
French onion soup,
coq au yin, sauce
soubise, to name but
a few. Equally
famous in India is
do pvaza, a dish of
meat cooked with a,
much as double its
weight of onions.
The shallot is
frequently used in
Mediterranean and
American cookery,
the rocambole in
country recipes.
Spring onions are
common in fresh
summer salads and in
Chinese and Japanese
cookery.
Chemical
Composition
Onion contains
protein, sugars,
cellulose, minerals,
a fixed oil, an
essential oil and
over 80 per cent
water. The amount of
essential oil is
very small but it
contains the
aromatic and
tear-producing
properties
associated with
onion. These are
caused by sulphides
which are produced
by the reaction of
the enzyme alliinase
on an amino acid.
These substances are
normally in separate
cells in the
tissues, but when
the onion is cut and
bruised, rupturing
the cells, the
reaction takes
place. Cooking has
the opposite effect,
preventing the
enzymatic action and
thus milder and less
pungent flavours are
produced. The
chemistry of the
Alliaceae family,
including garlic,
shallots etc, is
very similar. The
calorific value of
raw onion is 38
calories per 100g,
or roughly 20
calories for a 3oz
onion.
Benefits
of Onion
Though onions have
very less calories,
they add a flavor to
a wide variety of
recipes. Per serving
of onions only
contains about 45
calories. Onions are
highly nutritious as
they have a very low
amount of sodium, do
not contain bad
cholesterol (low
density lipoprotein
or LDL) or fat and
are a rich source of
dietary fiber,
vitamin C and other
essential nutrients.
Including onions in
the diet has been
known to ward off
many illnesses,
including some
deadly diseases like
cancer. Because of
these numerous
health benefits,
onions are an
integral part of
every kitchen all
around the world.
Given below are some
nutritional benefits
of onions;
Onions contain allyl
disulphide and
allium, the two
phyto-chemical
compounds that have
anti-mutagenic
properties and help
the body fight
against different
types of cancers.
They also have anti
diabetic properties
and helps in
lowering the the
levels of sugar in
the blood in
diabetics.
Onions are also
considered as one of
the good cholesterol
sources. According
to studies,
individuals who
consume one onion
every day raise the
levels of good
cholesterol (high
density lipoprotein
or HDL) in their
body.
Onions contain a
flavonoid called
quercetin, which has
antioxidant
properties and helps
in reducing and
eliminating the
effects of free
radicals in the
body. It also
inhibits the
oxidation of low
density lipoprotein
and generates
vitamin E.
Onions purifies the
blood, improves
cardiovascular
health and reduces
the risk of heart
diseases.
Onions also reduce
the growth of
cancerous cells and
tumors and prevent
the development of
different types of
cancers like ovarian
cancer, prostate
cancer, colon
cancer, breast
cancer and cancer of
the esophagus.
Onions have anti
inflammatory
properties and
reduce the pain and
swelling caused due
to rheumatoid
arthritis and
osteoporosis and
other complications
caused due to
asthma.
Onions, specially
spring onions are
know to mitigate
sinus infections.
Smelling juice of a
spring onion or a
slice of onion is a
popular remedy in
China to cure sinus
infections.
Nutrition
Facts about Onions
Nutrient
Nutrient
Value
Carbohydrates
9.35 g
Dietary fibers
1.9 g
Total fat
0.10 g
Proteins
1.10 g
Water
97.0 g
Folate
20 mcg
Thiamin
0.045 mcg
Riboflavin
0.028 mcg
Vitamin A
6 mg
Vitamin C
7.5 mg
Calcium
25.5 mg
Magnesium
12.0 mg
Manganese
0.1 mg
Phosphorus
32.0 mg
Potassium
162 mg
History
The onion is
believed to have
been domesticated in
central Asia. Onions
were used as early
as 5,000 years ago
in Egypt, as
depicted on ancient
monuments; ancient
Greek and Roman
records also refer
to the onion. During
the Middle Ages,
onions were consumed
throughout Europe.
They later were
thought to guard
against evil spirits
and the plague,
probably because of
their strong odor.
Onion skin dye has
been used for egg
and cloth coloring
for many years in
the Middle East and
Europe. Columbus was
said to have brought
the onion to
America. Folk
healers used the
onion to prevent
infection. The
combination of
onions and garlic
cooked in milk is a
European folk remedy
used to clear
congestion. Onions
also are used in
homeopathic
medicine.
Attributed
Medicinal Properties
Antiseptic,
diuretic,
expectorant and
rubefacient. Onion's
antiseptic
properties as a
juice or paste have
been used for wound
healing, skin
complaints (acne),
insect bites,
hemorrhoids, boils,
toothache, ('as moch
for that purpose as
to lay an unyon to
my lytel fynger for
the tothe ache',
Brinklow, 1545),
earache and
respiratory
complaints. The raw
juice is diuretic
and the whole onion
is an appetite
stimulant and
digestant. It has
been used as a
vermifuge. It is
believed to
stimulate the liver
and is beneficial to
the heart and
nervous system.
Preparation
and Storage
Onions may be used
whole, sliced,
chopped, diced or
liquidised. It is
important to observe
the cooking
instructions
carefully, as the
flavour of onions is
greatly influenced
by their treatment.
A recipe where
onions are to be
'fried till golden'
will suffer if the
onions are browned.
Small onions and
picklers are easier
to peel if they are
first immersed in
boiling water for
ten seconds and then
rinsed in cold water
before removing the
skins. To prevent
the eyes from
watering, peel
onions under cold
water or put them in
the freezer for ten
minutes before
chopping. Should
onions be
excessively strong,
boil them whole for
five minutes before
proceeding with the
recipe. Firm
unblemished onions
should keep for
several weeks if
stored in a cool
airy place. Too much
warmth will
encourage sprouting.
Home-grown onions
must be quite dry
before stringing.
Dried onion flakes
and powder should be
stored in airtight
containers.
Quality Assurance
As we believe in
providing quality
products that are
close to nature, we
conduct various
stringent quality
tests under the
supervision of the
experts. These tests
are performed with
due care from the
very initial stage
of procurement of
the products to the
final stage of
delivery to the end
users.
Packaging
We also provide
reliable packaging
of the cardamom seed
oil and other
cardamom products.
During the packaging
procedure, we keep
the hygienic level
high and also ensure
that there is no
human touch.
Moreover, the
packaging has also
helped in the easy
and safe delivery of
the products.
We are dealing with
various esteemed
clients located in
India as well as in
the markets of New
Zealand and Dubai.
We also promise to
serve a superlative
range of cardamom
and cardamom
products which
includes green
cardamom powder to
our new customers as
we serve to our
existing satisfied
clientele. The
frequent and
concrete feedbacks
from our customers
have also helped in
the advancement of
the managerial
activities and
serving the products
as per the demand
prevailing in the
market. Last but not
the least; we are
also looking forward
to provide more
beneficial deals in
the forthcoming
years.