Making a recipe that calls for green onions and realize that you don’t have any on hand? No need to run to the grocery store because I’ve got common substitutes for green onions for you including chives, shallots and more!
Also known as scallions, green onions add a fresh and delicate onion flavor to recipes.
This versatile bulb is used in many ethnic cuisines, making it a popular ingredient in cooking.
Jump to:
- What are green onions?
- What do green onions taste like?
- Are scallions and green onions the same thing?
- How to store green onions
- What onion is closest to green onion?
- What is the best substitute for scallions in a recipe?
- How many tablespoons is one chopped green onion?
- How to choose a green onion substitute
- Can I replace green onions with cilantro?
- Health benefits
- Best Green Onion Substitutes
- Recipes with Scallions
- In conclusion
Scallions elevate recipes with the addition of the color, texture and flavor that they bring to dishes.
A popular ingredient with chefs and home cooks, scallions can be used raw or cooked and will add a depth and complexity to your recipe when used either way.
When used as a garnish, scallions add a pop of green color and make a fresh and flavorful garnish on soups, stir-fries and more.
When finely chopped, scallions are a colorful and fresh addition to salads and soups.
They also add flavor and color when stirred into creamy dips and salad dressings.
When cooked in a recipe, these spring onions add a subtle and delicate flavor that is liked by many.
What are green onions?
Green onions are a bulb related to garlic and onions. Also known as scallions, they are long green stalks with dark green, light green and white sections.
What do green onions taste like?
Green onions have a delicate onion flavor that is mild and slightly pungent.
Are scallions and green onions the same thing?
Yes, scallions and green onions are one in the same. They are referred to by both names interchangeably.
How to store green onions
Green onions should be stored in the refrigerator. There are two ways to store them.
- Stand the stalks of scallions in a jar, root side down, in about an inch of water.
- Wrap the green onion stalks in damp paper towels and place them in a plastic food storage bag.
What onion is closest to green onion?
Shallot is the closest onion to a green onion although they are not the same color.
What is the best substitute for scallions in a recipe?
Chives are considered to be the best scallion substitute in a recipe, especially when the recipe calls for fresh uncooked green onion.
Chives add the same green color and mild onion flavor, making them an ideal replacement.
How many tablespoons is one chopped green onion?
One medium green onion or scallion, chopped, including green and white parts, is about 2 tablespoons.
How to choose a green onion substitute
The scallion substitute that you select may depend on how you are using it in a recipe.
If a recipe calls for scallions as a fresh garnish, then you will want to use one of the fresh green substitutes, such as chives, parsley, celery leaves and more.
If the recipe calls for cooking with green onions, you can use one of the dry substitutes, such as garlic powder, onion powder or dried onion, and any of the fresh substitutes.
Can I replace green onions with cilantro?
Cilantro will add a slightly different flavor to your recipe than green onions but you can certainly use it as a replacement.
If you are looking for a substitution that will not change the flavor much then chives, fresh parsley or celery leaves are good choices.
Health benefits
Scallions provide the following health benefits:
- Rich in vitamins A, C and K
- Source of antioxidants
- Provide fiber
Best Green Onion Substitutes
What can you use instead of green onions? Check out this list of the best substitutes for scallions.
I’m sure you will find one or two that will be your favorite replacements for scallions.
Celery and celery leaves
Although celery will not add any onion flavor to a recipe, when finely chopped it will add a similar color and texture to a recipe as green onions would.
Celery will have a mild flavor compared to scallions.
Chives
Chives are referred to as the cousin of the green onion and a good substitute. Fresh chives are very slender, long and green.
They have a mild onion flavor with a hint of garlic. Chives can be chopped and used as a garnish or mixed into recipes to lend a subtle onion flavor.
Garlic powder
If a recipe calls for cooking scallions, you can use garlic powder instead. Garlic powder can also be stirred into salad dressings and dips.
Leeks
Leeks provide a mild, sweet, onion-like flavor and are a versatile replacement for green onions.
The dark green part of the leek is tough so just use the white and light green parts in place of green onions.
Onion powder or dried onion
Onion powder or dried onion can be used when a recipe requires you to cook green onions.
Either can also be stirred into dips and salad dressings.
Parsley
Parsley has a fresh peppery flavor and, while it will not provide the same mild onion notes as scallions in a recipe, parsley will add a similar green color as a garnish.
Ramps
Ramps are only available for a short time in the early spring. This spring garlic resembles scallions but they taste more like garlic than onion.
With their strong flavor, ramps should be used sparingly when using them instead of green onions.
Red onions
Red onions have a stronger flavor than scallions but can be easily substituted when a recipe calls for cooking them.
Red onions will add a pretty color when used sparingly as a garnish.
Shallots
Shallots have a stronger, more pungent flavor than green onions.
However, the mild onion and subtle garlic notes of the shallot make them a good alternative for the scallion, especially when cooked.
Spring onions
Similar in appearance, spring onions have a much larger white bulb than scallions.
The spring onion bulb actually looks like a mini onion. Spring onions are an excellent replacement for scallions.
Sweet onions
Sweet onion is a good replacement for scallions especially when cooking them.
A sweet onion, also known as vidalia onion, is large and flatter than a typical onion. If using sweet onion as a garnish, be sure to finely chop them and use sparingly.
Sweet onions have a sweet flavor and is milder than other onions, which makes them a good type of onion to use in place of scallions.
White onions
White onions can be used for scallions in a recipe, however, the onion flavor that they provide is a more intense onion flavor than what you would get with green onions.
White onions will work especially well as a substitute when cooking them in a recipe.
Yellow onions
Yellow onions can replace scallions in a recipe, but keep in mind that they have a much stronger onion flavor so use them sparingly.
They also will work especially well if the recipe calls for cooking them.
Recipes with Scallions
In conclusion
Scallions undeniably add a unique flavor to recipes and there is always a great alternative with an almost similar taste to use when you don't have any on hand.
Experiment with the many substitute suggestions and you'll find one or more green onion substitutes that will become your favorite go-tos.
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