Have you ever wondered why there are so many onion varieties to choose from ? After all, they’re all just onions and they end up tasting mostly the same. Do the different colors bring subtle notes in each onion type ? As it turns out, differently colored onions do have different flavors, though it’s not …
Have you ever wondered what makes onions so pungent ? There’s got to be something that makes them stand out form the veggie crows. And we have a sneaking suspicion that whatever makes them so strong-smelling is also making them so flavorful. So why are onions so strong ? Why do they make us cry …
Have you you ever stared at the veggie aisle, wondering why there’s so many types of each vegetable ? Well of course it’s great, but there’s so many types of tomatoes and cucumber and lettuce and corn and… well, how do they all differ ? Specifically today, why are tomatoes to many different colors ? …
If you’re vegetarian but would like to try sushi, you’re probably confused whether it would align with your food preference. While sushi started out as a fish-based dish, it does not remain so. There are so many sushi options to choose from, you may just find something for yourself. Some of them are completely vegan, …
Are you a sushi fan ? So much so that you’ve decided to make your own at home ? Then you know getting all the ingredients can be pretty expensive, especially if you live outside Southeast Asia. The fish and other meat we can understand, but a cost that’s often surprisingly high is the nori …
If you’re an absolute sushi lover but you’re kind of disliking the idea of cucumbers in sushi, you may be looking for substitutes. Sometimes you can completely omit the cucumber and the sushi roll is just fine without it. Other times, you need a veggie in there and you’re left scratching your head. Just what …
You may have noticed how similar cucumbers are to zucchini, and by extension many squash types. Does that make the cucumber a part of the squash family ? If yes, does that mean those with a squash allergy should avoid cucumbers too ? And if cucumber is a squash can you easily swap it for …
If you’re booking a vacation you’re definitely checking everything: photos, rates, reviews, amenities. And for those like us, who are pretty much in love with food, hotel breakfast is a big deal. So what does it mean when a hotel says they offer continental breakfast ? Does that mean it’s free ? Hotel lingo can …
When cooking, you sometimes have to look for substitutes, for various reasons. Some fruit and veg are easy to sub, while others are, well, very difficult to get right. Eggplant is one of those, and if you’re making a recipe that relies heavily on it, then you have few options. Still, what are your options …
Are you at a loss of what to pair olives with ? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The best part is these little guys work very well with pretty much anything, so you’ll have lots of options to choose from. And you can always mix and match several of these ideas to make your …
If you’re in love with olives, then you know they’re deliciously salty and sour, with a hint of bitterness. Olives may remind you of pickles in that regard, or sauerkraut, or even capers. Why is that ? Are olives fermented food ? And if yes, are there any extra precautions you need to take ? …
Do you absolutely love olives but can’t really handle all that salt ? Understandable, lots of people find olives way too salty, especially green and kalamata olives. It seems black olives are the mildest around, and you can often find them in low sodium versions. But what if your favorites are green olives ? Why …
If you’re in the middle of winter then you may not have easy access to zucchini/courgette. So what can you use in place of courgettes ? To be honest there’s not that many direct substitutes. Most of these will be completely different veggies, and which you use will depending on exactly what you’re making, and …
If you have a nightshade allergy then you definitely need to know all the veggies you can’t touch. But does this include black pepper ? It’s possibly the most common spice ever used, at least in Western cooking. Trying to avoid something containing pepper is really difficult, so lets clear up whether black pepper is …
Did your onions turn blue ? As weird as that might sound, there’s really a very good explanation for it. No, really. This happens very often with red onions or shallots, but also with red cabbage and sometimes even cherries. And thankfully there’s a way to reverse it ! Yep, if your onions are blue …
If it’s fall, it’s sweet potato and pumpkin season. Whichever you use, you end up with a sweet, delicious meal that has the family asking for seconds. In face, pumpkins and sweet potatoes seem to work so similarly that we can’t help but wonder if they’re related. Well, that is something we’ll be tackling today, …
If you love sweet potatoes, then you know preparing them can be a real pain sometimes. They’re very difficult to cut through, especially if you get bigger ones. Cutting sweet potatoes is a frustrating mix of jammed blades, splits going the wrong way, and the occasional accident. But why are sweet potatoes so hard to …
If you’ve ever sauteed an onion in your life, you know that the longer you cook it, the sweeter it gets. And when you’re cooking something that calls for a lot of onions, like the Hungarian goulash, it turns the entire dish definitely sweet. The more onions you ad, the sweeter they get. But why …
Have you ever noticed how garlic and onions are so similar ? They’re both pungent, they go well together, and they’re in pretty much any cuisine you’ve ever tried. Granted, some rely on them more heavily than others but they’re still everyone’s favorite. So if they taste similar, are they related ? Are garlic and …
Whether you’re a beginner cook or a seasoned chef, you’ve got it in your head that onions are love, onions are life. There is basically no recipe without onions. But why ? Why are onions so popular, when so many complain of that ‘oniony smell’ ? Has anyone stopped to think why we use onions …