So. Scallions!
The little 6-pack flat I bought for $4 at the grocery store last spring has definitely done us proud. They were among the only plants that withstood the threat of pillbugs to grow tall and strong. All summer we've been chopping them up and using them in place of onion, as soup garnishes, or finely chopped and mixed into scrambled eggs. Really, they've been in just about everything savory I've cooked for the whole summer.
After roasting our scallions for Labor Day I had lots of scallion greens left over. What to do? Well, I had a total success with a batch of Heidi's celery salt last year. Why not try the same technique with our thoroughly overabundant scallion greens?
Scallion salt
scallion greens
sea salt
Wash your scallion greens and let them dry completely. Chop them into small rings and spread them in an even layer (or a reasonable facsimile) on a cookie sheet. Gently toast them in a low oven until dry but not browned. This took me about 45 minutes at the lowest temperature my oven will go--170F/77C. You can toast your scallions on a higher temperature, but you'll clearly need to keep an eye on them to avoid burning. I also imagine a dehydrator would do the trick.
Once your scallion greens are dried, crush them up in a mortar & pestle, or stick them in a bag and roll them to bits with a rolling pin. Add an equal amount of salt--I totally just approximated this with no issues--and mix thoroughly.
Now decant your scallion salt into a spice container of your choice, and start using it on anything that could use a hit of oniony, salty flavor.
What can you do with scallion salt?
- Put some in practically every single pot of soup you make from now on.
- Season the yolk mixture for deviled eggs or the mayo for egg salad.
- For that matter, just season beaten eggs and then scramble them.
- Sprinkle it over a buttered chicken before roasting.
- Season sushi rice with scallion salt, shape into onigiri, and grill.
- Make some scalliony oven potato chips or fries.
- Popcorn!
- How about gravlax? I bet that would be very exciting.
Next: scallion pesto?
10 comments:
Oh does this sound good! I really want to try it on popcorn, we used to put onion salt on plain popcorn and it was so good.
Also, if you are still looking for more scallion ideas, make scallion pancakes. I am hungry now just thinking about them.
I love this idea! I can't wait to try it with the huge bunches of greens on my CSA's sweet onions. And I ALSO have the leaves from a few bunches of celery in the fridge awaiting the same treatment. Mmm, salt. :)
great idea! Scallions add so much brightness to so many dishes.
congrats on having such success growing them this year.
I somehow seem to always have a surplus of scallions around but have never thought to mix them into salt! I bet it gives the salt such great almost chive-like flavor!
I love the idea of infusing salt with flavor! I had been meaning to do something similar with lemon zest but it has fallen off the radar. Now back on the radar: scallion salt! Wonderful thinking!
As always, another delicious and unique idea. I would never have thought of this before, but it is brilliant. Truly brilliant! Thank you for sharing with me!
I love the sound of this!
What an awesome idea! I have a ton of chives growing in the garden and I had never thought to use it as a seasoning for salt. :) How fun! And your scallion plant looks amazing-- holy cow!
I could list a million uses! GREG
SO very clever!! I cannot wait to try this!
Post a Comment