Onions are the bulb of the onion plant, which is part of the Allium family. Onions come in three colors - yellow, red and white.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion, believing that its spherical shape and concentric rings symbolized eternity. Today, onions are used in a variety of dishes and are the sixth most widely eaten vegetable in the world.
Nutrition information
Onions are a rich source of the flavonol quercetin (a powerful antioxidant), small amounts of vitamin C and prebiotic oligosaccharides for intestinal health. They also contain sulphur compunds (diallyl sufides) which have been shown to help prevent some types of cancer. However, exposure to high temperatures during cooking destroys these cancer-fighting compounds, so onion is best eaten raw.
Preparation tip
To avoid tears when preparing onions, try chilling them in the refrigerator before chopping. The cold inhibits the volatile oils in the onions which are released when chopped, helping to prevent a crying fit.
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