Onion cake

Onion cake

Sugar onion cakes
Type	Savoury or sweet cake
Associated cuisine	China, Germany, Korea, Switzerland, Wales
Main ingredients	Onion
Ingredients generally used	Other cake ingredients
Variations	Laobing, pajeon, the scallion pancake, teisen nionod and zwiebelkuchen

Onion cake is a savory or sweet cake prepared using onion as a primary ingredient. Various onion cakes are consumed in Canada, China, Germany, Korea, Switzerland, Wales and 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 onion as a main ingredient along with other typical cake ingredients.^[1][2][3] The use of boiled onion can reduce the sharpness of the onion's flavor in onion cake.^[3] Potato or bacon may also be used as a main ingredient in onion cake.^[4][5][6][7] Additional ingredients can include cottage cheese^[7] and sour cream.^[8] Various onion cakes are consumed in China, Germany, Switzerland, Wales and in other countries.^{[3][5][9][10][11]}

In Chinese cuisine, onion cake may be prepared using spring onion,^[12] (also referred to as scallion). A basic Chinese onion cake can consist of flour, lard, spring onion and salt.^[12]

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. 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.^[13]

Laobing

Pajeon

Pajeon is a savory jeon (pancake) dish in Korean cuisine prepared with a batter of flour, eggs and green onions or leeks.^[18][19] Rice flour may also be used, along with additional ingredients, such as seafood,^[20] pork and beef. Dongnae pajeon is prepared using green onion and seafood.^[21]

• 
  Haemul pajeon is a variety of pajeon in Korean cuisine made with flour, scallion and seafood

Scallion pancake

Scallion pancakes

A

scallion pancake is a Chinese pancake or unleavened flatbread prepared using scallion as a primary ingredient.^[22] It is typically prepared using a dough, although some are prepared from a batter.^[22] The scallion pancake is a traditional food in Shanghai, China, and is a common dish throughout the country.^[22] In China, fresh scallions are typically used in the dish's preparation.^[22] The scallion may be fried before it is added to the dough.^[22]

Teisen nionod

Teisen nionod is a Welsh onion cake prepared with onion, potato, butter, beef stock, salt and pepper.^[10][23]

Zwiebelkuchen

Zwiebelkuchen is a German onion cake or tart prepared with steamed onion, bacon, cream and caraway seeds on leavened or yeast dough.^[24][25]

• 
  Zwiebelkuchen baked in a sheet pan
• 
  Deep-dish style Zwiebelkuchen

See also

• List of cakes
• List of onion dishes

References

1. ISBN 978-0-547-34638-0
   .
2. ^ Baking Industry. Clissold Publishing Company. 1922. p. 486.
3. ^
   ISBN 978-1-78131-466-1
   .
4. ISBN 978-1-4088-4649-0
   .
5. ^
   ISBN 978-1-939629-44-9
   .
6. ISBN 978-1-59210-426-0
   .
7. ^
   ISBN 978-1-4185-7473-4
   .
8. ISBN 978-0-06-204688-8
   .
9. ^ "Swiss review of world affairs". Volumes 21–24. 1971. Normally about 40 tons of onions are sold on this single day, usually in attractively designed strings, wreaths and other more exotic shapes. There is also onion cake, onion soup and dancing in the streets. This year Bern's Onion Festival takes ...
10. ^
    ISBN 978-0-86243-315-4
    .
11. ISBN 978-1-4290-1110-5
    .
12. ^
    ISBN 978-1-317-84620-8
    .
13. ^ "How did green onion cakes become one of Edmonton's favourite foods?". CBC. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
14. ISBN 978-1-4613-1175-1
    .
15. ISBN 978-0-7627-9040-1
    .
16. ISBN 978-981-232-997-4
    .
17. ISBN 978-0-8248-1493-9
    .
18. ^ Stone, M. (2014). Traditions of South Korean Cooking: Learning the Basic Techniques and Recipes of the South Korean Cuisine. Martha Stone. p. pt76.
19. ISBN 978-1-910496-24-4
    .
20. ISBN 978-1-74104-774-5
    .
21. ISBN 978-0-7614-1786-6
    .
22. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8118-7870-8
    .
23. ISBN 978-0-231-13110-0
    .
24. ISBN 978-1-61212-426-1
    .
25. ISBN 978-0-313-32400-0
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Onion cake.

• German Onion Cake. Epicurious.