These incredibly flavorsome roasted green onions or roasted scallions are served on a bed of creamy polenta with cheese and a drizzle of cream on top!
Roasted green onions – where have you been all my life?
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I love scallions or green onions. I have been eating them all my life, and my favorite way of eating them is raw, dipped in a little bit of salt before each bite, with a slice of bread smeared with cheese and some tomatoes.
Roasting green onions has never occurred to me before, but this winter, I stumbled upon a few recipes on Pinterest that all featured roasted scallions and green or spring onions. I was intrigued and decided to try something similar right away. It was amazing!!!! I
Since then, I've roasted scallions several times again, not only as a main dish with polenta but also as a side dish for chicken. They are just so good!!! Try some Roasted Leeks or a Green Onion Quiche, too!
Differences between green onions, scallions, and spring onions
Green onions and scallions are the same thing: long and slender onions, which are harvested when very young before having the chance to form the bulb.
They are less intensive in taste than spring onions, so the best way to eat them is raw or slightly cooked.
Spring onions are harvested later, with a plump bulb at the base. They are normally planted in autumn and harvested in spring, so they are called spring onions.
Another reason people might confuse these different sorts of onions is that green onions/scallions are called spring onions in the UK and Canada.
So the best way of telling them apart is the bulb: thick bulb – spring onions. No bulb – green onions/ scallions.
I use them mostly interchangeably; I buy, cook, and eat what I find. I used green onions or scallions in this recipe, but you can definitely replace them with spring onions.
Try more recipes using them: Sweet Potato Jackets, Green Onion Pasta, Ginger and Spring Onion Beef, or Baked Mango Chicken.
How to serve roasted green onions?
Very often, I serve them with polenta. When making basic polenta, I normally only use water, less than in this case. I chose to use some milk and more liquid because I wanted a creamier polenta.
Of course, you can make the polenta according to your taste. Please read the packet's instructions; the liquid amount you need and the time of cooking can vary.
If you use only water and leave out the cheese, this dish will be vegan.
Roasted Green Onions (Roasted Scallions)
Ingredients
Green onions (Note 1):
- 2 bunches green onions scallions or spring onions
- ½ teaspoon hot paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Polenta (optional):
- 1 cup polenta 150 g
- 1 ¾ cup milk 400 ml
- 2¼ cups water 500 ml
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3.5 oz feta cheese sheep or cow, 100 g
- a few tablespoons of single cream to drizzle on top
Instructions
Roasted green onions:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F/ 210°C.
- Top and tail the green onions, leaving the trimmed green tops on. Wash them and pat them dry. Slice the onions lengthwise in half.2 bunches green onions
- Season green onions: Whisk both kinds of paprika and olive oil. Massage the onions with the mixture and place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Sprinkle with coarse salt and roast for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.½ teaspoon hot paprika powder + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder + 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Polenta:
- Heat the milk and water in a large pot. Add salt to taste, about 1 teaspoon. Just before the liquid starts to boil, add the polenta slowly while stirring all the time.1 ¾ cup milk/ 400 ml + 2¼ cups water/ 500 ml + 1 teaspoon fine sea salt + 1 cup polenta/ 150 g
- Cook the polenta according to the packet's instructions. Mine takes about 40 minutes, but the cooking times can differ a lot.
- Assemble the dish: Pour the polenta on a platter, arrange the onions on top, sprinkle with cheese, and drizzle with a little bit of cream, if desired.3.5 oz feta cheese/ 100 g + a few tablespoons of single cream
Rosa | For the Love of Italian Cooking says
This sounds delicious!! I love the flavours! I haven't made polenta in a long time (my kids didn't like it when I made it years ago, when they were younger), but I should give it another go. This sounds like a great recipe. 🙂 Do you your kids like polenta?
Adina says
My kids love polenta, especially my son, he wishes me to cook it at least once a month, their favorite way to eat it is with cheese (feta or gouda) and yogurt. The roasted green onions are more something for the mama. 🙂
Brie says
I am just loving your series Adina! Green onions are my favorite. I can't wait to try this gorgeous creamy cheesy dish although I might have trouble sharring those roasted green onions too 🙂
Lisa | Chocolate Meets Strawberry says
Adina this looks so delicious and comforting! The perfect kind of dish to sit down to after a long day when it's cold outside. I think it's lovely that you've given the dish your own Romanian touch to remind you of home! 🙂
Adina says
Thank you, Lisa. Polenta and scallions are really so "home" for me.
Monica says
I also enjoy green onions and mostly use it in stir-fries or as a garnish but in the summer, I sometimes have my husband throw it on the grill to char and put into our salads. It gets so nice and sweet. I love how this looks on top of that creamy polenta. I want to dig in! : )
Adina says
I will have to grill them as well in summer, never thought of it before.
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
I can't believe this perfect combo never occurred to me, so thank goodness it occurred to YOU! Have you ever tried Anson Mills polenta? It's the best. 🙂
Adina says
I don't know Anson Mills polenta, we don't have it here. I buy my polenta mostly in the Turkish store, it takes 40 minutes to cook but it's worth it.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Roasting green onions sounds like a fantastic idea, Adina. And they sure must have tasted heavenly with the creamy polenta. Can't wait to try!
Adina says
I hope you do, Anu!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I love polenta. I think it's a perfect comfort food. I like to grill my green onions when I'm BBQing something. This is something I need to try.
Adina says
Definitely grilling them this summer.
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
I love this side dish, Adina! The roasted green onions and polenta is a great combination. I've got to try this!!
Adina says
Thank you and I hope you like it, Thao.
Jess @ Sweetest Menu says
Wow yum, what a gorgeous dish! Looks like it popped straight out of a restaurant!!
Adina says
Thank you, Jess, that is so nice of you to say. 🙂
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
Adina, my dear, what a view! I am a huge fan of creamy polenta -- I could eat it by itself with a big smile on my face.
Adina says
Same here, Denise!
Balvinder says
I think soft polenta makes for an ultimate bowl of comfort food. I often make it but cut them in different shapes after cooling.
Adina says
I do that sometimes too and then grill or fry them.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
OMG, I LOVE roasted green onions - SO GOOD! And I happen to adore polenta, so this side dish is looking all sorts of perfect to me! Plus you added goat cheese, so I definitely want to hug you. 😉 Cheers, girl!
Adina says
Thank you, Cheyanne. 🙂
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I have never roasted green onions but it looks and sounds incredible! Love the addition of goat cheese too - everything is better with goat cheese! 🙂
Adina says
You're right! Goat cheese is always a winner. 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
O yes, green onions...my favourite too. Just got a few of bunches from ALDI too. This looks really tasty and flavourful!
Adina says
Thank you, Angie. I always have a bunch of green onion in the fridge, can't do without them.