If you like onions as much as we do, you’re going to love this! Now, the onion has its own day! June 27 is National Onion Day, and we plan on cooking up some onions to capture the flavor, nutrition and versatility of this immunity boosting superfood that we like to call Nature’s Ninja!
What is National Onion Day?
National Onion Day celebrates onions and the farmers who nurse them from seed to harvest to make it to your table. In 2017, U.S. farmers harvested 138,000 acres of onions, churning out 71.9 million pounds of onions that valued $971.2 million. They are the third-most consumed fresh vegetable in the United States and are on the menus of more than 94 percent of restaurants across the country.
Onions’ popularity is widely due to their versatility. There are four main varieties of onions — white, yellow, red and sweet — which all can be eaten in many different ways to enhance flavor and texture to meals. We have recipes for every meal of the day, including some great hacks to make pesto, onion butter, even ice cream.
If you’ve ever thrown away an onion due to age, or lack of use, you’ve missed out on an ample opportunity. Even if you’ve purchased too many onions for your family to eat, you can always make use of them. You can dice them up for use throughout the week: put them in your next omelet; boost the flavor and crunch of your canned beans or vegetables; put them in your salad to boost the nutritional value. You can freeze onions for up to 6 months. Here’s a great onion freezing primer. You can even dehydrate them for multiple uses.
Whether you slice, dice, sauté or bake, the best part about The Onion — Nature’s Ninja — is how great it makes food taste. Consider trying these great recipes to celebrate this National Onion Day:
French Onion Country Apple Soup
Panini with Brie, Cranberry Sauce and Caramelized Onions
Mixed Greens with Frizzled Onions
