Onions, Leek | FreshPoint (2024)

FAQs

How many onions equal a leek? ›

Sweet onions are better suited to dishes that require cooked leeks. Due to their high sugar content, they caramelize well, making them perfect for roasting or sautéing. As a general rule of thumb substitute one large leek with one medium onion in any recipe.

Nutrition. In terms of what's good for you, both leeks and green onions have tons of vitamins and nutrients, but overall, leeks are more nutrient dense, with more fiber, and much more of manganese, Vitamin K, Beta Carotene & Iron.

Onions and other aromatic plants belong to the genus Allium in the lily family. In fact, they are commonly referred to as “the stinking lilies” for their distinctive aromatic properties. There is a wide range of species within the genus Allium. They include: onions, leeks, garlic, chives, and shallots.

The leek is a member of the onion family, but unlike the onion, it does not form a bulb. The thick, fleshy stalk is about the same diameter at the base and resembles a large green onion without a bulb. Leaves are flattened like those of garlic.

One medium leek (8 oz.) will yield about 1 cup chopped leek.

Leeks are the mildest of the onion family and really shine when they're cooked, offering a lovely subtlety to dishes and a delicate, melty texture. Typically, the white and light green parts are consumed, while the dark green tops are left out, being full of fibers and hard to chew.

Leeks may protect against certain types of cancer

Studies suggest that people who regularly eat leeks and other allium vegetables may have up to a 46 percent lower risk of gastric cancer than people who don't eat them, but further studies are needed to be sure. Leeks may also protect you from colorectal cancer.

Leeks also contain potassium while also being low in sodium, which helps to lower blood pressure. Most of the nutrients in leeks are concentrated in the bulb and lower leaf section, with the exception of folate and B6 which are found throughout the greens and bulb.

Leeks have a variety of biological active effects, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-obesity, anti-oxidation and anti-bacteria, but the action mechanisms of these biological effects are still unclear.

Celery (Apium graveolens) is a marshland plant in the family Apiaceae that has been cultivated as a vegetable since ancient times. Celery has a long fibrous stalk tapering into leaves.

Is garlic an onion? ›

Garlic is a plant in the Allium (onion) family. It's closely related to onions, shallots, and leeks. Each segment of a garlic bulb is called a clove. There are about 10–20 cloves in a single bulb, give or take.

One of the most popular cooking ingredients and a bulbous vegetable plant that grows beneath the ground, garlic belongs to the lily family, Liliaceae. It is closely related to the onion. Each bulb contains several sections, called cloves, which are covered by a thin papery skin.

What are chives? Green onions and scallions come from the same onion species, while chives are considered an herb and come from a different species of plant. Chives have a bright, mild flavor and are a favorite topping for hearty breakfasts like a ham and Swiss omelet or simple appetizers like deviled eggs.

Wild leeks, also called ramps, are native to North America and have a strong garlic-onion flavor. There are many named varieties of leeks. They vary from long, green narrow-leaf types with long slender white stems to long wide-leaf types with thicker shorter white stems and blue-green leaves.

The process of growing onions from bulb is known as vegetative propagation (a form of asexual reproduction in which the new plant grows from a fragment of the parent plant). Bulb grows by the growth of the radicle and flag leaves after which the true leaves emerge.

The amount that a leek will yield depends on its size. A small leek may only yield about ½ cup chopped, whereas a medium to large leek yields closer to 1 cup chopped. Remember, you typically only cut the white and light green part of a leek, so the dark green top and leaves do not count towards its size.

Definitely stick to just the white and the light green. And the picture you post is definitely one leek.

Enhancing Soups and Stews

For a classic potato leek soup, leeks are not just a substitute but the star ingredient. Use two cups of chopped leeks to replace an equivalent amount of onions for a balanced, savory taste.