Onions
 

Hi,
A lot of recipes use green onions instead of mature onions because the carbs are lower.
I have been looking for green onions everywhere (in Japan)without much luck. I recently found what they call here "small" onions but am not sure if that is the same as a green onion.
They are about 1" (25mm) diameter and almost round. I presume that if they were allowed to grow longer they would develop into full grown onions (unless they are a special small type). They are not so green, which is why I am confused. Also, on FitDay they specify the size of green onions as "Long" instead of round which also makes me think they are something different.
Any advise would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Simon.

Hi Simon!
A green onion is a long grassy looking thing with a small white "onion" at the bottom. They are also know as scallions. Chives would also work, if you can't find anything like this.
HTH
Erin

Hi Erin,
Thanks for your reply.
I guess the onions I saw were not green onions (scallions) as they are nothing like you described. 80 % of the vegetables here in Japan are the same as most other countries but there are a lot of vegetables unique to Japan (or other parts of Asia). There are also a lot of vegetables that we can not buy here and Green Onions seems to be one of them.
Thanks for your help.
Simon.

Simon, i am surprised that you can't find green onions. They are used a lot in Asian cooking. At least here they are. I would continue to check around, or you could grow your own, they are very easy to grow.
HTH
Erin

In Australia we have spring onions which sound like Erin describes. We also call them shallots (I think that's how to spell it!! ;) ). They are really common here, they have onion type leaves that are hollow past the white bit on the bottom. The 'onion' on the bottom is hardly swollen at all. They sell them in bunches and the white bit is about 1cm/1/2 inch thick. I'd be very suprised if you couldn't get them - I think they can be used in sushi (although that might be a westernised version of sushi!!)

Simon, this link has a picture of green onions:

http://www.kikkoman.com/contents/co.../list/gs23.html

I learned something new today. Negi is onion!

Karen

Thank you jaddles and Karen.
What a difference a picture makes.
Now I know what we are talking about - "Negi".
If I am not mistaken jaddles that is a Spring Onion like you said.
Isn't it funny how some things are given a different name and we can't tell what they are. Green Onion in the US is a Spring Onion in Australia.
Thank you both and Erin of course.
Simon.