For more years than I care to admit, minced onions have been a staple in my pantry. I panic when I run out, as I do with instant coffee.I use the latter to make brewed coffee stronger and thicker. I use minced onions almost daily, in everything from rice to egg and tuna salad. I have added them to squash, along with brown sugar and cinnamon. My palate tells me they provide balance.
I do not recall my parents or my grandmothers using minced onions. I was introduced to them by my first college roommate, Vivienne. I began using them in omelets, which Vivi and I made nearly daily, and in a cold rice salad she taught me to prepare. Today, even when I add grapes or raisins or pineapple to a cold chicken salad, I also add minced onions.
They add bite to my cole slaw, along with minced green pepper. I've added them to soup, when fresh onions didn't do the trick. (I often use them with fresh onions.) If I want onion bagels (my favorite), but all I can find is plain, I add minced onions to butter, slather the onion, and toast it open faced.
As you can see, they are one of the first things I buy in Paris. This jar survived the trip without being opened, so I brought it home.
What product must you always have on hand?
15 comments:
I never have those two products on hand! But I can't live without frozen, chopped onions, garlic, shallots and herbs from the Picard frozen food chain in France. They're not quite as good as the real stuff, but they taste fairly fresh and sure simplify evening cooking.
Garlic powder - or, to be moew specific, garlic granules (no powder here) I put into anything that I want the flavor but not the pieces of real garlic - vinaigrettes, marinades, sauces.. and whenever I'm just feeling lazy!
Betty, I saw Picard outlets but never made it to one of them in Paris. I did notice that French frozen food packages were more practical - I mean, theywere real time savers. I am not always sure what to do with frozen food in the U.S....
Katie, that is pretty much my philosophy with minced oions. I want the flavor but I am lazy or in a hurry.
Well, Mimi, you have hit on one thing I do not have in my pantry! I have several indispensables, though -- chili paste with garlic, which, if I run out, sends me to the Asian market to buy multiples just so I don't have to face that trauma again. Hot sauce (specifically Tabasco), though I usually have half a dozen on hand. Really good black pepper, which I buy from Penzeys.
I'm racking my brain and for some reason the only things I'm coming up with are fresh. Product . . . I don't know today Mimi. I've been gone 6 weeks, I just went and cleaned my counter tops and fridge drawers, and right now I guess I'm mincing words because I can't come up with a product I always want in the kitchen. I know that's ridiculous!
I must say that never in my culinary life have I ever thought about using dried minced garlic. It just seemed like a way of cheating on the real thing. But, you know what? You convinced me of it's many uses (besides it just being 'easier'). My question is, are the ones you bought in France similar to/just as good as the ones we can buy in the states? There's cheap versions (like 99 cents) I noticed in my spice aisle... would they have the same strength/taste? Just curious.
Amy @ neverfull.wordpress.com
Lydia! I am shocked! I thought for sure you'd have some for dire emergencies. Oh, well, I did not even know minced onions existed until I was 19...
Tanna, I am patient! I'll just wait until you come up with one...
LOL, Amy I have not opened them yet. I had a rather large supply on hand already. But I expect to open them soon. They are good for two more years, according to the label.
I know there is nothing like fresh! But for some reason my plebian palate likes these little buggers...
Too funny that you mentioned dried minced onions. I just bought a jar and have been expermenting with salads and soups when I just need a little and too lazy to cut up part of an onion. I buy my spices/herbs from 2 spice shops here...that's too lucky isn't it? They both carry things that are a lot fresher than the supermarkets. One also carries dried/minced shallots and I may try them. My favorite herbs, I can't be without are Herbs de Provence, rosemary and thyme. Lemons are a must have around too.
Judy, I am with you on herbes de Provence. I cannot find them locally. I can drive out of town and pay $4-5 a jar, or order online for about $10.
But I got smart and bought two jars in Paris, one for 59 cents and the other for 63 cents. Even when converted from euros to dollars, the price is low.
Lemon, yes! I add it to tea, tuna, grate a bit into a lot of things.
My niece goes to a Waldorf school and I was inspired many years ago when her Swedish teacher told the students that in Sweden the ladies always buy a new basil plant (potted and ready to use) every week when they do their grocery shopping...I don't have to replace mine quite that often :) but it's sure fun all year long to be able to just pluck away at my potted plants...and, I always have to have some dried chives around; I use them abundantly with granulated garlic and cracked black pepper in low fat cottage cheese to make a "fool'ed" yah! low calorie dip for potatoe chips!
I've never even seen jarred minced onions, but I'll take your word that they're good!
We have lots of can't-live-without pantry staples, but especially cumin, thyme, fresh garlic, chicken broth and frozen spinach. The kitchen might actually grind to a halt without those :)
Oh, and we finally had to make our own herbes de provencec after we used up our supply from Vaison. Nobody seems to carry it.
I like that idea, Thea, and I have bought herbs in small pots for my kitchen many times, just to have them fresh for a while. Clipping them just before I need them charms me.
Freida, I have had to make my own herbes de Provence, too.
I can't be without them!
I buy most of my spices/dried herbs from penzey's. Black pepper goes in almost everything savory I make (it's almost an addiction in my family!), cinnamon, cocoa powder, and espresso powder are essentials for baking.
I love Penzeys! Love their products, the no-nonsense packaging and the fact that they stated here in Wisconsin.
In fact, every trip to Madison is a trip to Penzeys...
Chocolate. :)
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