Onion is the most common vegetable used in kitchens for preparing most of the dishes in a day. Imagine how many onions are used worldwide and how much onion skin is trashed out. What if we tell you that those papery onion peels you thought were useless are actually worth keeping?
Now, if you are thinking what on earth can those insignificant onion skins do after their important component is taken off, you are in for a big surprise. If some past research is to be believed, onion peels are actually more nutritional than the onion itself!
Many studies have claimed that onion skins are highly rich in antioxidants, fibre, vitamin A, C, E and heart-friendly flavonoids. It is said that onion skins can prove to be beneficial for boosting immunity and promoting heart health and maintaining blood sugar level.
Lift up Soup and Gravy: Add onion peels while boiling soup, stock and gravies. It will help thicken the gravy and will also infuse a beautiful purple hue in it. Remember to take the peels out after boiling for some time.
Add Smokiness: Smoked spices are popularly used to add some heat and depth to foods. You can make onion ash by roasting onion peels in the oven till they turn dark (almost black) in colour. Then grind them to make a fine powder and sprinkle away.
Relax With Onion Skin Tea: Another never-heard-before tea version touted to be as healthy as others. Onion skin tea is known to soothe the mind and also improve the immune system. Pour hot water in a cup containing a tea baggreen tea leaves and onion peels and let both seep for some time. Strain the tea and relax with a healthful cup of tea.
Quench Thirst with Onion Peel Water: Onion peel-infused water may provide its anti-inflammatory properties and may also take care of the lingering muscle cramps. Just add onion skins to a glass of water and let them soak for at least 15 minutes. Remove the skins and gulp down the water of goodness.
Add More Flavour to Rice: Biryani, pulao, fried rice, jeera rice - almost all rice dishes can be enhanced by cooking the rice along with a few onion skins. You will love the subtle bitter flavour of onion skin in your rice. Try it out but don't forget to remove the skin before eating.