(BPT) – Ah, the joys of mid-April — tax season wraps up, spring is in full swing and the year’s fresh crop of Vidalia(R) onions arrive in store produce aisles! While onions are a staple in spring and summer cuisine, topping burgers and adding zing to salads, the unique sweetness of Vidalia onions means you can use them in some surprising and delicious ways.
Grown exclusively in Vidalia, Georgia, and 20 of the surrounding counties, the state’s official vegetable is available from April 12 through mid-September, giving you plenty of time to try one of these dishes from the Vidalia Onion Committee. The dishes feature fresh, unexpected pairings of Vidalia onions with other seasonal ingredients.
1. Vidalia Onion and Apple Tart
The sweetness of Vidalia onions is the perfect foil to the tartness of Granny Smith apples in this summer tart. Chef Jeffrey Buben of Vidalia Restaurant uses caramel, thinly sliced onions and apples as the foundation for the tart, topping it with a batter of sugar, egg whites, almond flour and all-purpose flour. Serve this tart warm with vanilla ice cream.
2. Grilled Vidalia Onion and Georgia Peach Salad
Georgia’s most famous produce exports meet up with America’s favorite summer pastime in this dish from Chef Jon Ashton of Relish magazine. Grilling brings out the sweet unique flavor of both the onions and the peaches, baby leaf lettuce adds crunch, Dijon mustard delivers a bit of bite and goat cheese crumbles impart creamy protein to make this salad a surefire winner for any get-together.
3. Vidalia and Pear Honey of a Soup
This summer soup recipe won the 2009 Vidalia “Sweet Memories” recipe contest with its daring and sweetly successful incorporation of Vidalia onions, pears, honey, yogurt and curry flavor. The onions and pears are sauteed until soft, then pureed to serve as the base for the soup. Curry powder adds a delightful fragrance, while cream, yogurt and honey add sweetness and richness. You can serve this soup hot or chilled.
4. Sweet Potato Hash Browns with Vidalia Onions and Georgia Pecans
How many side dishes do you know that can work well with virtually any meal of the day, from breakfast to dinner? Hash browns are a classic breakfast dish that only gets better and more versatile with sweet potatoes taking the place of regular potatoes; the Vidalia onions and Georgia pecans add an extra punch of sweetness. Great as a side dish for any vegetarian meal, or as a hearty and healthy complement to meat, poultry or breakfast eggs, these hash browns only take about 20 minutes to prepare!
5. Hawaiian Coconut-Crusted Vidalia Onion Rings
If you always serve the same sides with your entree, why not try something new? Ordinary onion rings get the Vidalia treatment with an island flare in this side dish. A crust made of ground macadamia nuts, almonds, ginger, sesame seeds and shredded coconut add sweet crunch to Vidalia onion rings. The onions also star in the tamari-ginger dipping sauce you can pair with these rings. Rice wine vinegar, apple juice, sesame oil, tamari (or soy sauce) and peeled fresh ginger root make the sauce a success.
For more great Vidalia onion recipes and ideas, visit www.VidaliaOnion.org or www.facebook.com/VidaliaOnions, or follow the Vidalia Onion Committee on Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.
