Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Spring Onions
Spring onions are most often utilized raw. The whole onion can be flash blanched and grilled, which brings out more the robust and sweet elements of the onions, and makes them a bolder pair for fish and meats
Seasons/Availability
White Pearl onions are available year round.
Current Facts
White Pearl onions are a delicate long-day storage onion variety that resemble the shape of a shallot more than a common onion. They are harvested when their skin has dried to create a protective sheath for its still succulent flesh. They can be stored up to two months in the proper conditions. Pearl onions are purposefully small because they are planted tightly and densely together and picked at their preferred stunted size.
Description/Taste
White Pearl onions have a dry paper-like, thin skin that is both white with earthy tones. It encases a translucent, crisp, white flesh that is juicy, mild and sweet.
Applications
White Pearl onions are ubiquitous as a pickled cocktail onion but they have many other culinary uses. In addition to being a common substitute for boiling onions in soups and stocks they can be charred, roasted and braised. When pickled they can also be a perfect accoutrement to charcuterie. Blanch white Pearl onions and saute in tamarind paste, lemon juice and sugar until glazed. Cook blanched pearl onions in heavy cream and butter until tender, then serve creamed onions topped with bacon and chives. Add whole Pearl onions to diced carrots, celery and wine, then add to sauteed mushrooms for bourguignon. White Pearl onions will keep, stored cool and dry, for up to two months.
Geography/History
True Pearl onions are classified as Allium ampeloprasum because they form just one storage leaf. In practice, short-day onion cultivars, such as Grano and Crystal Wax, when grown north of the equator, will actually develop pearl-size bulbs and can be marketed as such.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Knotty Barrel | San Diego CA | 619-269-7156 |
| Chez Loma | Coronado CA | 619-435-0661 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| Hotel La Jolla & CUSP Dining & Drinks | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0261 |
| Tapenade | San Diego CA | 858-551-7500 |
| Cowboy Star | San Diego CA | 619-450-5880 |
| Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-488-0551 |
| Bare Back Grill Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 858-274-7117 |
| JR Produce | San Diego CA | 858-270-3857 |
| Toast Enoteca Cucina | San Diego CA | 619-269-4342 |
| Delta Zeta | San Diego CA | 858-337-7536 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| Indulge Contemporary Catering | San Diego CA | 858-270-5700 |
| Crosby National Golf Club LLC | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-227-0172 |
| Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar | San Diego CA | 619-295-6000 |
| Bertrand at Mr A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include White Pearl Onions. One
is easiest, three is harder.
