Onion cake is a savory or sweet cake prepared using

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' L., from Latin ''cepa'' meaning "onion"), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus ''Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onio ...

as a primary ingredient. Various onion cakes are consumed in Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Switzerland, Wales and in other countries. Several types and varieties of onion cakes exist, including laobing, pajeon, the scallion pancake, Edmonton-style green onion cake, teisen nionod and zwiebelkuchen.

Overview

Onion cake is prepared using

as a main ingredient along with other typical cake ingredients. The use of boiled onion can reduce the sharpness of the onion's flavor in onion cake. Potato or bacon may also be used as a main ingredient in onion cake. Additional ingredients can include cottage cheese and sour cream. Various onion cakes are consumed in China, Germany, Switzerland, Wales and in other countries. In

Chinese cuisine Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many o ...

, onion cake may be prepared using

spring onion Scallions (also known as spring onions or green onions) are vegetables derived from various species in the genus ''Allium''. Scallions generally have a milder taste than most onions and their close relatives include garlic, shallot, leek, chi ...

, (also referred to as scallion). A basic Chinese onion cake can consist of flour, lard, spring onion and salt.

Varieties

Edmonton-style green onion cake

A variant of the Chinese spring onion pancake popularized by chef Siu To has become the local specialty of

Edmonton, Canada Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anch ...

. Two variations exist: one with a typical pancake shape, and the other with a hole in the middle. To attributes the early popularity of his green onion cakes with the large number of Taiwanese expatriates in the area.

''Laobing''

'' Laobing'' is a pancake or unleavened flatbread in Chinese cuisine that is prepared with flour, water and salt.

Scallions Scallions (also known as spring onions or green onions) are vegetables derived from various species in the genus ''Allium''. Scallions generally have a milder taste than most onions and their close relatives include garlic, shallot, leek, chi ...

may be used as an additional primary ingredient, and scallions are sometimes served as a side dish with laobing.

''Pajeon''

Pajeon ''Pajeon'' (, ) is a variety of '' jeon'' with scallion as its prominent ingredient, as ''pa'' () means scallion. It is a Korean dish made from a batter of eggs, wheat flour, rice flour, scallions, and often other ingredients depending on the v ...

'' is a savory jeon (pancake) dish in Korean cuisine prepared with a batter of flour, eggs and green onions or leeks. Rice flour may also be used, along with additional ingredients, such as seafood, pork and beef. ''

Dongnae pajeon ''Pajeon'' (, ) is a variety of '' jeon'' with scallion as its prominent ingredient, as ''pa'' () means scallion. It is a Korean dish made from a batter of eggs, wheat flour, rice flour, scallions, and often other ingredients depending on the va ...

'' is prepared using green onion and seafood. File:Korean pancake-Haemul pajeon-03.jpg, ''Haemul pajeon'' is a variety of ''

pajeon ''Pajeon'' (, ) is a variety of '' jeon'' with scallion as its prominent ingredient, as ''pa'' () means scallion. It is a Korean dish made from a batter of eggs, wheat flour, rice flour, scallions, and often other ingredients depending on the v ...

'' in Korean cuisine made with flour, scallion and seafood

Scallion pancake

A scallion pancake is a Chinese pancake or unleavened flatbread prepared using scallion as a primary ingredient. It is typically prepared using a

dough Dough is a thick, malleable, sometimes elastic paste made from grains or from leguminous or chestnut crops. Dough is typically made by mixing flour with a small amount of water or other liquid and sometimes includes yeast or other leavenin ...

, although some are prepared from a batter. The scallion pancake is a traditional food in

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...

, China, and is a common dish throughout the country. In China, fresh scallions are typically used in the dish's preparation. The scallion may be fried before it is added to the dough.

''Teisen nionod''

''Teisen nionod'' is a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

onion cake prepared with onion, potato, butter, beef stock, salt and pepper.

''Zwiebelkuchen''

'' Zwiebelkuchen'' is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

onion cake or

tart A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes wit ...

prepared with steamed onion, bacon, cream and caraway seeds on leavened or yeast dough. Zwiebelkuchen 1.JPG, '' Zwiebelkuchen'' baked in a

sheet pan Sheet or Sheets may refer to: * Bed sheet, a rectangular piece of cloth used as bedding * Sheet of paper, a flat, very thin piece of paper * Sheet metal, a flat thin piece of metal * Sheet (sailing), a line, cable or chain used to control the cle ...

File:Zwiebelkuchen.JPG, Deep-dish style ''Zwiebelkuchen''

References

External links

German Onion Cake
'' Epicurious''. {{Allium, state=collapsed Cakes Onion-based foods