Snowdrop Onions
Estimated Inventory, 1 EA : 0
Description/Taste
Snowdop onions are comprised of clustered, elongated bulbs connected to upright stems and leaves. The bulbs average 1 to 3 centimeters in diameter and have a distinct, cylindrical to conical appearance. Each bulb is wrapped in several thin layers of papery skin, and these red-brown layers are generally smooth and leathery with light striations and a faint sheen. The stems of the plant are straight, thick to thin, fleshy, and firm. They typically appear in variegated shades of pale green to green and white and extend 20 to 50 centimeters in height. Sheaths of dark green leaves envelop the stalk, and at the top of the plant, the leaves bend from their weight. The leaves also showcase a semi-smooth surface and are tubular, narrowing at the tips, giving them a tapered appearance. In the summer, upright scapes produce spherical umbels with tiny, white, star-shaped flowers. All portions of Snowdrop onions are edible and have a crisp, tender, and succulent consistency. The leaves and stalk have an aqueous, chewy nature and a sharp, vegetal taste, while the bulbs have a crunchy consistency and a pungent, spicy, robust flavor with potent garlic-like nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Snowdrop onions are harvested in the late winter through spring.
Current Facts
Snowdrop onions, botanically classified as Allium galanthum, are a wild Asian species belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. The fragrant onions have been traditionally used in medicinal and culinary preparations throughout Central Asia for centuries and are favored for their robust taste, versatility, and early appearance. Snowdrop onions are named for their arrival in the wild just after the snow melts away. The species is also called Aq Zhua, Aigyrzhuasy, and Tau-Joa in Kazakhstan, Luk Molochnocvetnyj in Russia, Saraussak in Kyrgyzstan, Shi Ting Cong in China, and Milky onions and Milk-Colored onions in English translations. Snowdrop onions have edible bulbs, leaves, stems, and flowers, and the wild species is viewed as having a stronger taste and higher nutritional content than commercial onions. The wild onions are also ready for harvest several weeks earlier than other spring varieties, making them a choice selection for recipes. Despite their popularity, wild populations of Snowdrop onions are disappearing due to over-foraging. Efforts are being made to harvest the species in a more sustainable manner. Snowdrop onions are edible raw or cooked and are incorporated into a wide array of culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Snowdrop onions have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Like other onion varieties, Snowdrop onions may be a source of vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, vitamin A to maintain healthy organs, and magnesium to control nerve functions. Onions also provide potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, phosphorus to repair tissues, manganese to help calcium absorption, and other nutrients, including copper, iron, sulfur, and flavonoids. In natural medicines throughout Central Asia, Snowdrop onions have been occasionally used to treat coughs, cleanse the digestive tract, boost the circulatory system, and have other antibacterial and antioxidant-like properties.
Applications
Snowdrop onions have a pungent, robust, and rich taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The entire plant is edible, and the bulbs, stems, and leaves are utilized raw or cooked, while the flowers are reserved for raw uses. Snowdrop onion bulbs can be added in any preparation, calling for onions. The fleshy bulbs are used as a base flavoring for hot soups, including fish, beet, beef, and cold soups such as botvinya and okroshka. Snowdrop onions are also finely chopped and cooked into vegetable dishes, salads, meat main dishes, and casseroles, or fried into strips, cooked and topped over boiled potatoes, or stuffed into meat cutlets. In addition to the bulbs, the young leaves and stems are sliced and incorporated into savory recipes like egg dishes, meat dishes, pie fillings, or sauces. Fresh flowers can be harvested and sprinkled over salads or other dishes as a raw garnish. Snowdrop onions pair well with other aromatics such as garlic, ginger, and shallots, meats including beef, poultry, and turkey, celery, potatoes, carrots, beets, and cabbage. Whole, unpeeled Snowdrop onions should be immediately used for the best quality and flavor. The fresh onions will keep for a few weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and dark location. Snowdrop onions can also be sliced into strips and dried for extended use.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Onions, in general, have been a staple ingredient in traditional recipes served during annual celebrations throughout Russia. Allium species are planted on large farms to small home gardens, and growers use onion plants as a bartering crop for other culinary goods. Historically, onions were often a central ingredient during the workday and were cooked and served with water and black bread. They were also utilized in special occasion dishes for various holidays. Spring onions are deeply connected to Ascension Day in Russia and are stirred into savory pie dishes. Ascension Day marks the 40th day after Easter, when Jesus ascended from Earth into Heaven. This day typically falls in the spring and occurs around the same time as when Snowdrop onions appear in the wild. Onions are also often cooked into cutlets as a meat substitute during Lent. In the fall, onions are essential in dishes for the feast of St. Luke, a day nicknamed Lukov Den’ or Onion Day. Traditional recipes such as onion pies, onion soup, and baked onion dishes are prepared and served on the celebratory religious holiday.
Geography/History
Snowdrop onions are believed to be native to Central Asia and have been growing wild since ancient times. Much of the species’ history is unknown, but Allium galanthum has been found growing in rocky soils, on small hills, along stony slopes, and in desert mountains at elevations between 500 and 1,500 meters. Snowdrop onions are an Asian species that has remained primarily wild and is a seasonally foraged delicacy. The onions are rare to find in markets and are becoming more challenging to source as wild populations are being depleted. Today, Snowdrop onions are found in regions of Central Asia, mainly in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and in the Xinjiang region of Northwestern China. The Snowdrop onions featured in the photograph above were sourced from a local vendor who sold the onions along the highway at Kokpek Pass, around two hundred kilometers east of Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Snowdrop Onions. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Savory Experiments |
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Easy Creamed Onions |
