Fried onions: useful properties and recipes for cooking

Preparation of many first and second dishes is difficult to imagine without frying onions. With onions, you can completely change the taste characteristics of products, obtaining from the simplest ingredients an unusually delicious and flavorful dish.

Composition and Calories

Onions are a low-calorie product. In 100 g there are only 40 kcal, of which proteins - 1.3 g, fats - 0.2 g, carbohydrates - 8.1 g, dietary fiber - 2.9. The chemical composition is represented by the following components:

• iron;
• potassium;
• sodium;
• iodine;
• phosphorus;
• vitamins C, E, B.

The nutritional value of fried onions has the highest caloric value due to the addition of oil during cooking and is 250 kcal. The energy value may vary depending on the type of oil used.

What is the usefulness of fried onions

General benefits

Onions are among the few foods that lose a little of their useful properties during frying. So what is the usefulness of the dressing? Thanks to the rich content of important substances, onion frying has the following positive effects on the human body:

• replenishes the necessary concentration of vitamins and minerals;
• allows you to maintain the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
• strengthens muscles;
• has antibacterial properties;
• Improves the overall condition of the body;
• Thanks to the presence of vitamin B strengthens the nervous system;
• Promotes normal functioning of the kidneys;
• Improves metabolism and fat metabolism;
• Has a diuretic effect;
• Slows the growth of cancer cells.

For women

A woman's body is characterized by sensitivity to stressful situations. Regular addition of onions to dishes calms the nervous system.

The product contains vitamin B6, which normalizes most important functions in the female body:

• improves digestion;
• restores metabolism and speeds up the metabolism;
• makes you feel better during PMS and menstruation;
• Serves as cancer prevention;
• increases sexual arousal;
• Reduces the risk of infertility.

The content of vitamin C and E improves skin, hair and nails.

For Men

Onion frying is also useful for men for a number of reasons:

• increases male libido;
• Improves the quality of the seminal fluid and normalizes reproductive function;
• in combination with medication reduces the symptoms of prostatitis;
• Relieves problems with urination.

In pregnancy

Pregnant women should not give up a small amount of fried onions. The dressing contains folic acid, which is necessary for favorable intrauterine development of the fetus.

It is no secret that the body of a woman who is in the "interesting position" is extremely vulnerable. Including onions in the diet helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of catching colds. In addition, onions contain a large number of vitamins and trace elements necessary for both the health of the mother and the development of the baby.

During pregnancy, you should not eat fried onions as a separate dish. Violation of this recommendation can cause heartburn. The best option would be to add fried onions while cooking other dishes.

It is worth with caution to eat onions during the third trimester, do not forget that the vegetable can cause allergies.

When breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is as important a period as pregnancy. A woman needs to continue to carefully monitor her health, paying special attention to her diet. Onions contain vitamins and nutrients that enter the baby's body through the mother's milk.

The body of a nursing woman is under tremendous strain, due to which the immune system suffers first of all. Ascorbic acid, which is part of the onion, restores the protective function.

If there are small lumps in the breast, onion compresses are used to reduce inflammation. The therapy can be used at the initial stage of the inflammatory process. At the first signs of deterioration (high fever, unceasing pain in the chest) it is necessary to seek help from a specialist.

For children

It is not necessary to completely exclude onions from the diet of a child. The product contains a huge number of useful components that can strengthen the fragile immune system and replenish the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals.

Fried onions are not recommended to give a child under 1 year. It can cause an allergic reaction, so you need to start adding it to food in small portions. If no changes are observed within a day, it is possible to continue feeding.

Fresh onions should be introduced after three years. Thermally unprocessed vegetable increases the acidity of gastric juice, and irritates the mucous membranes of the esophagus and stomach.

When losing weight.

Nutritionists recommend adding onions during cooking. Vegetable frying normalizes the metabolism and helps speed up the metabolism. One of the diets even has the name "onion". The French proposed it based on the ability of onions to remove toxins and detoxify the body.

An important ability of onions is to break down fats without harming your health.

Fried onions in medicine

The healing properties of onions have been known for centuries. They are called a natural antibiotic due to their antimicrobial properties. The value of fried onions is the ability to retain most of the useful vitamins and trace elements even after heat treatment. For this reason, fried onions are used for the treatment and prevention of many ailments.

For a high fever

To normalize body temperature, several small onions should be peeled from the husk and fried in a frying pan with a little vegetable oil until softened. The resulting dressing should be wrapped in a paper napkin or gauze and applied to the chest.

The method is suitable only if the body temperature does not exceed 38 degrees, otherwise you need to seek help from a specialized medical facility.

With lactostasis

Lactostasis is a thickening in a woman's breast, formed as a result of clogging of the milk ducts. In the initial stages of the disease, it is recommended to use compresses of onions and honey. To do this, you need 30 grams of lightly fried onion pulp combine with 15 grams of honey. Mix the mixture thoroughly and cool it to a comfortable temperature. Apply the resulting mixture to the problem area.

Untimely treatment of lactastasis can cause mastitis, which results in blood poisoning. Elimination of the affected area is often performed with surgical intervention. For this reason, a nursing woman needs urgent hospitalization at the first signs of deterioration.

Fried onions in cooking

Due to the ability to dramatically change the taste of a dish, fried onions are widely used in cooking. It is added to the first, second courses, used during the preparation of salads and appetizers.

Onion soup with croutons

Ingredients:

• 4 medium onions;
• Hard cheese - 100 gr;
• Bread - 150 gr;
• Butter - 30 gr;
• flour - 50 gr.

Method of preparation:

1. Peel the onion, wash and cut into half rings.
2. Send to a frying pan with butter. Fry on medium heat until golden, add the flour and continue cooking for a couple more minutes.
3. Pour 1.5 liters of water into a saucepan, bring it to the boil and add the onions fried with flour.
4. Add a cube of broth.
5. To make croutons cut the bread into small pieces, sprinkle the grated cheese on top and send in a preheated to 180 degrees oven for 7 minutes.
6. Pour the soup on plates, add the croutons and serve.

Onion rings

An onion ring appetizer is very popular, a delicious and flavorful dish can be made at home as well.

Ingredients:

• 2 large onion rings;
• Potato chips - 150 g;
• 2 eggs;
• flour - 150 gr;
• natural yogurt or low-fat sour cream - 200 ml;
• sunflower oil - 200 ml.

Method of preparation:

1. In a deep bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add spices for spiciness. Any available spices will do.
2. In a separate bowl mix natural yogurt and wheat flour, add chicken eggs. Whisk the mixture with a whisk, mixer or blender until smooth.
3. Peel the onion, wash and cut into large rings.
4. Chop the chips into small pieces.
5. Pour oil into a frying pan and heat well.
6. Dip each ring of onion into the batter, roll in the crumbs of chips and send to the pan.
7. Fry until golden brown.

The fried onion rings go well with garlic sauce or ketchup.

Garlic sauce can easily be made at home. For this, just combine 50 grams of mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt with a chopped clove of garlic.

Fried potatoes with onions and mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes;
• 1 medium onion;
• 1 garlic clove;
• Fresh or frozen mushrooms - 300 g;
• vegetable oil - 30 ml;
• salt, spices.

Method of preparation:

1. Peel the onion and cut into half rings.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan and add onions. Fry until golden.
3. Shred the mushrooms into thin slices and add them to the onions. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. Pre-cleaned and washed potatoes cut into cubes and add to the pan. Add salt, garlic and spices.
5. Cook over a medium heat until the potatoes are cooked.

Health Hazards and Contraindications

A large amount of onion fry eaten can harm the body. It is important to follow moderation when consuming the product.

Fried onions are contraindicated in the following cases:

• for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (eating the vegetable increases the acidity of gastric juice);
• gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• Liver disease (because of the oil content);
• high blood pressure.

How to store fried onions

To save time, fried onions can be prepared in advance and stored for a long time. For this you will need the following ingredients:

• onions - 1 kg;
• vegetable oil - 0,5 l.

Method of preparation:

1. Peel the onion from the husks and rinse thoroughly under running water.
2. Warm well the oil in a frying pan and add chopped onions.
3. Cook on a medium heat until the frying pan is golden, then turn down the heat and put a lid on the pan.
4. Continue to roast for 20 minutes until the onions are cooked through.
5. Store the jars to sterilize, place the fried onions in them and close with lids.

Such a dressing can be stored for a long time (up to 12 months) and is suitable for cooking any dishes.

Can I Freeze

Fried onions can and should be frozen, because this method greatly simplifies the process of cooking. For this purpose, it is recommended to fry onions in oil until golden crust, put them on a paper towel to drain off excess fat, and place them in containers designed for freezing. Bags for freezing and even ice molds will do. It is enough to add a few ice cubes of onion to the broth, and the taste of the cooked dish will be completely transformed.

How to fry onions correctly

At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing complicated in the process of frying onions. For an experienced cook, it really is. A beginner needs to consider a few important subtleties to achieve the desired result.

1. What kind of onion is suitable for frying? It is best to use the onion variety. This variety retains most of its useful properties after heat treatment. During frying, onions get a pleasant golden hue. The taste becomes sweet and the flavor becomes rich.
2. Green onions are usually used fresh, roasted only when used as a filling for baked goods.
3. For frying, any frying pan will do, but dishes with nonstick coating will greatly simplify the cooking process. Many cooking enthusiasts advise using a multicooker with "frying" or "stewing" functions.
4. For frying, purified vegetable oil is best. With butter, frying will quickly begin to stick.

The classic way to fry:

1. Pour a little oil in a frying pan, it should slightly cover the bottom.
2. Finely chop the onion and send it to the pan with heated oil.
3. Fry over medium heat until the slices are translucent, then stir them in.
4. Once lightly golden, the roast is ready. Add salt to taste if necessary.

Fun facts about onions

1. It is believed that ancient man began to use onions as a food about five thousand years ago.
2. Onions are believed to be native to Asian countries.
3. Japanese scientists have discovered the usefulness of onions for fighting cancer. For this purpose, they injected drugs that slow down the growth of cancer cells in rodents. At the same time, scientists fed onions to some of the mice. In the course of the experiment, it was found that the rodents, which were fed onions, had the most effective treatment results.
4. Scientists from India have revealed that tears from slicing the vegetable can impair vision and cause conjunctivitis.
5. An inscription about 3,000 years old was discovered on the pyramids of Egypt. It described the amount of silver used to buy onions for workers.
6. An image of an onion was found on the tomb of Tutankhamun.
7. In Libya, an average person eats up to 35 kg of onions per year, in Senegal - up to 23 kg, in England - up to 10 kg, in France - up to 6 kg.
8. The onion surpasses many fruits, in particular pear and apple, in terms of sugar content. During frying, some of the essential oils volatilize, as a result of which the onion acquires a sweetish taste.
9. Traditional medicine supporters call the vegetable a natural antibiotic.
10. With the help of onions you can get rid of the unpleasant consequences of insect bites.

Photo of fried onions