THE BLOOMING of onions, unlike in other crops, does not always bring cheer to farmers. Once the plant sends up a flower stalk, usually around winters, the bulb, which is its commercially important part, stops growing. As a precautionary measure, farmers snip the flower stalks, which are then used as a vegetable.
The flower stalks of onion (Allium cepa) are, however, not easily available in urban vegetable markets and so command a high price. I recently purchased about 200 g of the stalks for ₹30 from Chittaranjan Park market in south Delhi. The market caters to the Bengali community, who are particularly fond of the vegetable and refer to it as peyaj koli. One of their favourite recipes is the quick stir-fried stalks (see recipe).
Though more pungent than the leaves of the green or spring onion, the flower stalks of onion have a mild flavour when compared with the bulbs. Many, therefore, prefer using the flower stalks in soups and salads. The buds at the tip are usually discarded, but they too have a distinct onion-like aroma and can be infused in oil and vinegar to be used as a condiment.
Though the centre of origin of onion is not known for sure, it is believed to have originated somewhere in Central Asia 5,000 years ago. The word peyaz comes from the Persian language. The maximum diversity of Allium species is found in a belt from the Mediterranean basin to Iran and Afghanistan, suggesting that this is the primary centre of origin.
Denne historien er fra December 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra December 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
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Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
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BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara