Can I use chopped white onion instead of pearl onion?

I'm making mustard pickles and it calls for pearl onions. Can I use white onions chopped up?

onions pickling

Best Answer

I have seen recipes that call for chopped white onions instead of pearl onions, which leads me to believe it is feasible.

The texture might be different; when cooked, pearl onions tend to have a different sort of bite to them, much like a grape, revealing a burst of flavor after a slight resistance, whereas chopped fullsize onions tend to be more one-note and soft. I don't know for sure what pickling does to the texture, but if it is beneficial to use whole onions for a similar effect, you'll lose that. I suspect the flavor penetration would be greater, however, due to the cutting.

Pictures about "Can I use chopped white onion instead of pearl onion?"

Can I use chopped white onion instead of pearl onion? - Top view closeup of ripe organic yellow peeled onion cut into rings and placed on white marble tabletop

Can I use chopped white onion instead of pearl onion? - Top view of light green bowl with unpeeled raw organic yellow onion bulbs and one regrowing onion placed on white marble tabletop

Can I use chopped white onion instead of pearl onion? - Top view of unpeeled raw yellow onion in white bowl and unpeeled raw aromatic garlic in light green bowl placed on marble table

Quick Answer about "Can I use chopped white onion instead of pearl onion?"

White onions are a great option when you don't have any pearl onions on hand. They have a sharp zing and plenty of crunch, perfect eaten raw or cooked.

Can you substitute regular onions for pearl onions?

If you don't have pearl onions then you can substitute 3/4 cup, chopped white onion per 1/2 cup pearl onions needed. Alternately, if you need a substitute for a pickled pearl onion for cocktails you can use caperberries.

What can I use instead of pearl onions in beef bourguignon?

If you can't find pearl onions or another diminutive variety, small shallots are better than nothing. Carrots are also common; the baby variety favoured by Eastwood and Roux make the most pleasing garnish aesthetically, but ordinary sized ones, cut into large chunks, work just as well in the flavour department.

What makes pearl onions different?

Flavorwise, pearl onions are sweeter and milder than regular onions or even shallots, though they're not as sweet as cipollini onions, another variety of small onion that is flatter in shape. Pearl onions are available year-round either peeled and frozen, or fresh in a mesh bag with their papery skins still on.

Pearl Onion Substitutes - Top Options For Your Next Recipe

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska