Shallots
Estimated Inventory, 5 lbs : 87.24
This item was last sold on : 04/19/25
Description/Taste
Shallots widely vary in size from small to large, depending on the variety, and have an elongated, oblong shape with a rounded center, tapering to a point at both ends. The bulbs are encased in a dry and papery, thin skin that flakes when touched and ranges in color from copper, gold, pale pink, to red. When the papery layers are removed, multiple clusters of cloves are found divided into individually wrapped segments similar to garlic. Small Shallot varieties average 2 to 3 cloves, and larger varieties typically contain 3 to 6 cloves. The firm, dense, and semi-dry flesh is off-white to translucent with light purple or red rings. Shallots are aromatic with a complex blend of spicy, sweet, and pungent flavors. When raw, the cloves are crisp and astringent, and when cooked, they develop a delicate, sweet, and savory taste with flavors reminiscent of garlic.
Seasons/Availability
Shallots are globally cultivated and available year-round.
Current Facts
Shallots, botanically classified Allium cepa, are multi-cloved bulbs belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family along with onions, garlic, and leeks. There are many different varieties of Shallots, and approximately thirteen varieties are commercially cultivated around the world in the modern-day. Within these varieties, there are two subgroups, Western Shallots and Eastern Shallots, that vary slightly in appearance and flavor. Shallots are an ancient crop that has been used for thousands of years in culinary and medicinal applications. The name Shallot was derived from Ascalon, which is an ancient city in Israel situated along the coast of the Mediterranean. Ascalon was the first city to introduce the pungent bulbs to Greece through trade, resulting in the Greeks referring to Shallots as the “Onion of Ascalon.” Over time through loose translations, the name Shallot was created and used to describe the variety. Shallots are highly favored by chefs for their aromatic, sweet, and complex, but not overpowering flavor and are used globally to flavor a wide variety of cuisines.
Nutritional Value
Shallots are an excellent source of fiber, stimulating the digestive system, and a good source of the minerals iron, potassium, and magnesium. The bulbs also contain vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants that can help strengthen the immune system, and provide some calcium, zinc, vitamin E, selenium, and phosphorus. In Asia, Shallots are used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as an ingredient to internally heat the body to induce detoxification and are also believed to help increase immunity against sickness.
Applications
Shallots are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as roasting, sautéing, and grilling. When raw, the bulbs can be chopped and mixed into salads, topped on bruschetta, blended into sauces such as Béarnaise, minced into guacamole, and stirred into vinaigrettes. Shallots can often be substituted in recipes calling for onions and garlic and have a slightly milder and sweeter flavor profile. In addition to raw preparations, Shallots can be sautéed with meats or cooked vegetables, stirred into lentil-based stews, blended into curries, baked into casseroles, stir-fried with rice, or tossed with pasta. They can also be roasted and dipped in a mixture of Greek yogurt and olive oil. Shallots pair well with beets, tomatoes, mushrooms, green beans, spinach, garlic, capers, meats such as poultry, beef, and pork, fish, baked oysters, cheeses such as parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar, and manchego, herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, tarragon, and mint, and beer. The bulbs will keep up to one month when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Despite their strong association with French cuisine, traditionally used in roasts, stews, and sauces, Shallots are widely used throughout Asia for their milder pungency. In Southern India, Shallots are pickled in red vinegar and served as a condiment for curries, papads, which are flatbreads, sambar, and chora, which is a black-eyed pea stew. When pickled, Shallots develop a tangy, sour flavor that is believed to stimulate and enhance appetites when eaten at the beginning of a meal. Shallots are also known as Bawang Merah in Indonesia and are commonly used instead of regular onions in everyday cooking for their mild, less potent flavor. In Indonesia, the bulbs are pickled similarly to India for use as a condiment, or they are sliced, deep-fried, and served as a crunchy topping over soups, stews, rice, and curries.
Geography/History
Shallots are native to Asia and have been cultivated for over four thousand years. The specific region of origin within Asia is heavily debated among experts, with some linking the bulb to Southeast Asia while others to the city of Ascalon in Western Asia. In the 11th century, Shallots were rumored to have been introduced to Europe from crusaders returning from the middle east, and over time, the bulbs were spread throughout Western Europe through trade routes. Today Shallots are globally widespread and are available at farmer markets, specialty grocers, and supermarkets in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Mille Fleurs | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
| Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
| Blue Water Estate Services | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-720-9831 |
| Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters | La Jolla CA | 858-228-5655 |
| RoVino Rotisserie + Wine | San Diego CA | 619-972-6286 |
| Pretty Pickled, Pretty Sauced | National City CA | 619-869-9921 |
| Olive Tree Marketplace | San Diego CA | 619-224-0443 |
| Sago | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
| Slowly | San Diego CA | 858-352-6080 |
| Golden Door | San Marcos CA | 760-761-4142 |
| Bread & Cie Café | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| The Bower | Coronado CA | 619-606-8424 |
| Little Lion | San Diego CA | 619-519-4079 |
| Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn (Avant) | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
| The Monsaraz | San Diego CA | 858-760-6228 |
| Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
| Botanica | San Diego CA | 619-310-6320 |
| Something Homemade | Vista CA | 858-245-1004 |
| Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
| Isola La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-412-5566 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Banquet | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Storyhouse Spirits Bar | San Diego CA | 801-949-5955 |
| The Crack Shack-San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-795-3299 |
| The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
| 31ThirtyOne by Deckman | San Diego CA | 619-495-9814 |
| Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill (UTC) | San Diego CA | 858-886-9909 |
| Dija Mara | Oceanside CA | 760-231-5376 |
| Park Hyatt Aviara | Carlsbad CA | 760-448-1234 |
| Giaola | Carlsbad CA | 858-266-9303 |
| Gata | La Jolla CA | 858-336-5550 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| The Corner Drafthouse | San Diego CA | 619-255-2631 |
| Fishery | San Diego CA | 858-272-9985 |
| Yoann Taboyan, Personal Chef | San Diego CA | 347-277-1958 |
| Salt and Lime | Del Mar CA | 858-926-8582 |
| Little Victory Wine Market | Carlsbad CA | 310-738-3380 |
| Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
| UCSD La Jolla (Pritikin Intensive) | San Diego CA | 858-657-6473 |
| Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon CA | 619-644-7585 |
| Hilton Garden Inn - Homewood Suites San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-696-6300 |
| Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| Royal Polaris Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-226-8030 |
| Lilo | Carlsbad CA | 619-385-0914 |
| The Crack Shack PB | San Diego CA | 619-450-7978 |
| Fox Point Farms | Encinitas CA | 619-892-0553 |
| Birdseye Rooftop | San Diego CA | 619-206-7220 |
| Rosewood Social | San Juan Capistrano CA | 669-243-8403 |
| Toast Catering | San Diego CA | 619-795-9135 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Pendry SD (Provisional) | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Happy Medium SD | San Diego CA | 509-869-2279 |
| The Whaling Bar | La Jolla CA | 858-355-9218 |
| Marine Group Global Services LLC | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Webbcreationfood LLC | San Diego CA | 619-829-9194 |
| WineSellar & Brasserie | San Diego CA | 858-450-9557 |
| Barra Oliba | San Diego CA | 610-310-5110 |
| Lucky Bolt | San Diego CA | 662-832-3638 |
| insideOUT | San Diego CA | 619-888-8623 |
| New Wave Bagel | San Diego CA | 415-533-4525 |
| Golden Door Bakery | San Marcos CA | 760-761-4142 |
| Communion | San Diego CA | 619-606-5568 |
| Merenda | Oceanside CA | 703-459-4145 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| The Sushi Stand | San Diego CA | 619-394-2395 |
| Harvest Kitchen (Corp Lunch) | San Marcos CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Siesel's Meats | San Diego CA | 619-275-1234 |
| Smokin J's BBQ | San Diego CA | 703-314-1486 |
| Prey Brewing Company | Vista CA | 760-822-4226 |
| Ju-Ichi | San Diego CA | 619-800-2203 |
| SIE Culinary Management | San Diego CA | 858-964-8677 |
| Q&A Oyster Bar & Restaurant | Oceanside CA | 858-245-3780 |
| The Besta-Wan Pizza House | Cardiff CA | 805-231-2515 |
| Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 619-884-5350 |
| The Butchery | San Diego CA | 858-345-1524 |
| The Guild Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-764-5108 |
| Green Acres Campus | San Diego CA | 858-450-9907 |
| Adobo House | San Diego CA | 619-990-8340 |
| Michele Coulon Dessertier | San Diego CA | 858-456-5098 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Gravity Heights Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-384-5993 |
| Patisserie Melanie | San Diego CA | 619-677-2132 |
| Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
| Vulture / Dreamboat | San Diego CA | 858-342-3609 |
| US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Kitchens for Good (SD) | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| The Crack Shack-Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 877-230-1871 |
| Toast Cafe | San Diego CA | 858-208-9422 |
| Parfait Paris (La Jolla) | La Jolla CA | 619-319-7811 |
| The Crack Shack Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa CA | 951-808-7790 |
| Manna | Encinitas CA | 510-366-3057 |
| Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
| Bayside Landing | San Diego CA | 858-270-9200 |
| Ballast Point Rest. - Miramar | San Diego CA | 858-790-6900 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Banquet) | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego CA | 877-517-9340 |
| Wayfarer Bread | La Jolla CA | 805-709-0964 |
| Culinary Kitchen Catering and Events | Coronado CA | 619-798-8477 |
| Le Parfait Paris - Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-245-4457 |
| Rose Café | Carlsbad CA | 310-399-0711 |
| Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| Flora Cafe | Bonita CA | 619-339-6604 |
| Choi's | San Diego CA | 858-900-1224 |
| Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
| Sovereign Thai Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-887-2000 |
| Armonia LLC | San Diego CA | 619-724-7210 |
| The Shout House | San Diego CA | 619-231-6700 |
| Piatti | San Diego CA | 858-454-1589 |
| L Orangerie | Coronado CA | 619-571-3367 |
| Portside Pier (Ketch Tasting Deck) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Comma | San Diego CA | 619-802-9183 |
| Il Giardino di Lilli | La Jolla CA | 619-467-9897 |
| Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | 909-915-9877 |
| Chateau La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-459-4451 |
| The Loma Club | San Diego CA | 619-222-4653 |
| Miho | San Diego CA | 619-365-5655 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Shallots. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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