Where would you consider Shallots absolutely necessary and not interchangeable with other onion (grill, French)

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by Old Town FFX

Oysters Mignonette.

Ding - ding - ding - this is the winner.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Really??? I use garlic in my scampi recipes - no onions.

No onions in my scampi, either.

[missik999]

I never substitute onions for shallots. Totally different flavor, and the recipe wouldn't be the same.

Shallots are cheap and easily available so why substitute?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Really??? I use garlic in my scampi recipes - no onions.

I do the same. To me, though there is a difference between onions and shallots, they can be intermixed, but the finished product will not be quite the same. I will add, one thing I don't think I would ever do is used onions in the place of a leek in potato leek soup.

Missiik999: I know prices can be all over the place, but here, in NWA the only place shallots are cheap is in the Asian market. Otherwise they are very expensive. When we venture to the Asian market (not often) and shallots are available we always buy them, but this isn't often. If we have them, I would not substitute.

[JrzDefector]

I actually don't like white/yellow onions, so i tend to substitute shallots or green onions in recipes, especially if they're supposed to be raw. Sometimes I'll even use chives then.

Some recipes really do require a specific onion type to taste right, but I've found them to be few and far between. and while I would use shallots to replace white/yellow onions, I'd never do the reverse. But that's personal preference.

[gguerra]

I don't think red onions have been mentioned. IMO they are the closest thing to shallots and actually look (and taste) very similar. It is what I use in a pinch. A pan sauce for steak au poivre comes to mind as something I would prefer to use shallots for.

[Missy2U]

I've only substituted shallots with green onions (except for in the cases above) and I must say I agree with nmnita, shallots are NOT inexpensive where I live either.

Then again, I just paid way more for a dozen eggs yesterday than I did for a gallon of gas so...

[momtothree]

I actually interchange onions with shallots as I prefer the flavor of shallots. I get a huge bag from my local Asian market.

But in a pinch to sub for shallots, finely dicing the heck out of the onion, I would. But usually I would just do another recipe. And I would never switch out leek for onion.

[Mircea]

Originally Posted by no kudzu

while searching recipes I sometimes see where leeks or shallots are specified and i'm wondering where I should definitely stick to the specified type of onion.

Bearnaise Sauce.

I use shallots, peppercorns and red wine vinegar.

There are many occasions when you can substitute green onions for leeks and red onions for shallots.

If you're trying to copy-cat a recipe, you should stick with the onion used. Some sauces that use leeks wouldn't work with green onions.

I think maybe you just have to know your onions a bit.

Originally Posted by gguerra

I don't think red onions have been mentioned. IMO they are the closest thing to shallots and actually look (and taste) very similar.

Okay.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Missy2U

I've only substituted shallots with green onions (except for in the cases above) and I must say I agree with nmnita, shallots are NOT inexpensive where I live either.

Then again, I just paid way more for a dozen eggs yesterday than I did for a gallon of gas so...

I have to smile and then cry when you mention eggs: luckily our Farmers market has a guy that sells fresh free range eggs for $3 a dozen: just went up from $2.50. The problem, our farmers market will be closing or the winter in about 4 weeks. I guess I will have to join the "I paid for eggs club"