7 Reasons I Love Vidalia Onions

 

Beautiful Vidalia onions
Beautiful Vidalia onions

Yes, Virginia, Georgia has an official state vegetable: the Vidalia onion.  By law, Vidalia onions can only be grown in a 20-county area in the southeastern part of the state, rather like champagne from France. In fact, only about one hundred farms produce the entire crop of the prized culinary treat.

Yumion, the Vidalia Onion Mascot
Yumion, the Vidalia Onion Mascot

So why  do I love  Vidalia onions?

  1. Vidalia onions don’t have a harsh taste or strong flavor. They are sweet due to the low sulfur levels in the Georgia soil.
  2. Vidalia onions won’t leave you with onion breath. They are mild, not hot.
  3. Vidalia’s are uniform in size with flattened tops and bottoms, so cut slices match in size and shape–perfect for hamburgers and onion rings.
  4. Vidalia onions don’t make you cry.  Well now, if you peel enough you’re likely to shed a tear, but if I slice one Vidalia, I don’t need a tissue.
  5. Vidalia onions are easy to peel. They are shipped with just a thin layer of skin.
  6. Vidalia onions are an annual crop and sold when fresh.  When the crop runs out, Vidalia’s are gone until next year. But, they will keep for a while in a cool, dry place.
  7. Vidalia onions can be served raw or cooked in a variety of  recipes from onion soup to sweet onion strudel. Think relishes, salsas, hot sauces, seafood sauces, salads and salad dressings, dips, baked, caramelized, fried, grilled, sautéed.

The Georgia only Vidalia crop typically becomes available in mid-April and is shipped nationwide to all 50 states.  

Caramelized Vidalia Onions
Caramelized Vidalia Onions

More Information

Vidalia Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
100 Vidalia Sweet Onion Drive
Vidalia, Georgia 30474