8 Green Onion Substitute for a Similar Flavor in Your Dish | Quantity, Use, & Recipes

You can eat green onions in fried rice, potato salad, crab cakes, or even use it on bread, cheddar biscuits and other recipes.

Still, most of us confuse scallions with scallions; they are the same!

But it is different from shallots, chives, leeks, ramps, spring, red, yellow or regular onions.

The white of a green onion has a tangy flavor, while the green part is fresh and grassy.

A recipe you’re cooking calls for the freshness or sharpness of spring onions, but you don’t have them. And to taste a little closer, you should now choose one instead of green onions.

Confused about what to use? We have listed all possible alternatives!

Best Green Onion Substitute

Remember, the white and green part of the scallions add a different effect to the recipe, so you should carefully choose the green onion substitute, such as which is better for replacing leaves or bulbs.

The rule of thumb is to replace the bulb (white part) with the bulb alternative and replace the leaves (green part) with the leaves.

The green onion substitutions below won’t change the flavor of your recipe; instead, they will impart a fresh, grassy flavor similar to the last dish. We have listed delicious recipes for you that you can try these alternatives.

Shallot

Are green onions and shallots the same thing? Number! Can you substitute green onions for shallots? YEAH!

What is a sty?

Shallot is a small sized onion with a mild, delicate and sweeter flavor.

But when we talk about flavor, they are closer to green onions than yellow, red or white onions.

Note: They are considered a good swap for the top of green onions.

If Used Raw

Shallots can taste tangy or stingy, so be sure to substitute the minced form in sauces or dishes like potato salad.

How to change?

1 medium green onion is equivalent to 2-3 tablespoons (finely chopped), a small or medium (finely sliced or minced) shallot is equal to 2-3 tablespoons.

So, use shallot substitute for green onions to match the flavors. (Green Onion Substitute)

When is it used?

You can replace green onions with chives or chives in dishes that involve adding them later in chopped form.

Recommended Dishes:

• Shallot and Spinach Chicken Breast
• Thai Cucumber Relish (Ajad)
• Fresh Onion and Shallot Soup

Bonus: Pair with Dill instead of cumin to make delicious grilled salmon.

Chive

Can you substitute chives for green onions? Yeah!

Fresh chives or dried chives may also be the closest possible match to green onions.

Its tubular leaves may resemble hollow stems of scallions, but they have a slightly different flavor.

Chives are medicinal herbs like rosemary. Their delicate flavor will not overpower the overall taste of the dish.

They have a lighter onion punch (with a hint of garlic) than scallions.

Note: Chive substitution is considered a good swap for the green part of scallions.

Be Careful When Cutting

Chives are delicate plants that tend to rot easily. So if you must use a green onion substitute, use a sharp cutting knife to slice the fresh chives.

How to change?

Despite its mild flavor, can you use fresh or dried chives if you don’t have green onions? Yeah! Here’s how:

1 teaspoon of dried chives is equal to 1 tablespoon of fresh chives.

Whereas 5-6 chives make a total of 2 tablespoons.

To use chives as a sub for scallions, start by adding a small amount (still more than scallions; 1 bunch requires 6 times the chives) and gradually increase the amount.

When is it used?

You can use chives instead of green onions in dishes containing chopped scallions.

Recommended Dishes:

• Creamy Chive Potatoes
• Carrot Tart with Ricotta and Herbs
• Chicken and Chive Meatballs

Bonus: You can substitute lemon or any lemongrass to make delicious seared scallops.

Leeks

Are leeks and green onions the same thing? Number! Can you substitute green onions for leeks? Certainly! Because they are also known as overly large green onions.

They are well suited for green onions, as they have similar onion types. Now let’s talk about the difference in tastes:

Green onions or scallions have a subtle onion flavor compared to the onion-like stronger punch of the leek.

Note: They are considered a good swap for the white part of green onions.

Health benefits
Leeks contain dietary fiber, vitamins that help blood clot (A, K, C), minerals that are very important for red blood cells (iron, manganese), and regulate nerve and brain functions.

How to change?

1½ medium or 1 large leek is equal to 1 cup of chopped leek (raw).

Whereas, 3 medium or 2 large leeks (cooked) are also equal to 1 glass of water.

However, you should substitute a smaller amount for green onions as they have an intense flavor.

For example, if your meal says to add 1 cup of spring onions, you should use ¼ cup of leeks (build up the taste gradually).

When is it used?

You can replace green onions with leeks in both cooked and uncooked dishes.

Remember, they have a strong overpowering flavor, so wash the leeks first and then thinly slice them to use as raw materials.

Recommended Dishes:

• Garlic Potato Soup
• Leek and Spinach Pappardelle
• Creamy Mushrooms and Chicken Breast

Bonus: Pair with saffron or any saffron substitute to make delicious risotto.

Ramps or Wild Leek

Despite the wild leek name, they are different from leeks. The former has a sharper onion flavor than the latter.

Ramps, also called scallions, are similar to scallions but slightly smaller with one or two flat but broad leaves.

They have a stronger onion flavor than leeks and a more pungent garlic punch than scallions.

Note: They are considered a good swap for green onion leaves.

Which part of the spring onion do you use?
All wild leeks or ramps are edible; The green leaves have the mildest flavor and the white bulb has a soft texture (strong flavor).

How to change?

For ramps or scallions, three pieces of thinly sliced leaves equal one piece of white onion.

1 medium spring onion is equal to 2 tablespoons (13g).

Remember, scallions are milder in flavor, so use wild leeks instead of scallions sparingly to pair the flavors.

When is it used?

You can replace green onions with ramps in both cooked and uncooked dishes.

Yes, they can be used raw! In fact, you can substitute wild leeks wherever you use scallions or scallions.

Recommended Dishes:

• Spring Greens Pan
• ramp soup
• Stir-fried Spaghetti

Bonus: Pair it with basil instead of thyme to make delicious stir-fried brown rice.

Green Garlic

Green garlic or spring garlic is young garlic that has not yet matured.

It is similar to spring onions or green onions. It has long, skinny, soft green leaves and a pinkish-purple white bulb.

Spring garlic smells more like garlic than onions, but can be a possible substitute for onions, as both have the aroma of scallions (but more intense and spicy).

Note: They are considered a suitable replacement for the bulbs and green stems of spring onions.

Can You Store Green Garlic?
You can store fresh garlic or fresh garlic in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Cut into pieces and freeze in a bowl. You can also lightly fry the green garlic before storing it.

How to change?

1 whole green garlic equals 1/3 tablespoon.

Remember, young garlic has a more spicy and intense flavor than scallions, and a small amount can meet the specific flavor you need.

When is it used?

You can use it as a substitute for green onions in both cooked and uncooked dishes.

It can be replaced in almost any dish that includes green onions.

Recommended Dishes:

• Fried Pork Chops
• pesto pasta
• spicy chicken soup

Bonus: Pair it with paprika instead of turmeric to make a delectable Spanish green salad.

White Onions

If you don’t have green onions on hand, you can use white onions instead.

Yes, you can substitute green onions for onions!

White onions are soft, crunchy (due to the thin paper-like rind) and have a sweet flavor.

Note: They are considered a suitable replacement for the spring onion bulb.

Do you know?
White onions have the strongest flavor of all onion varieties. The sugar content is high and the sulfur content (which gives onions a pungent odor and taste) is low.

How to change?

1 small white onion equals half a cup (chopped).

So how many green onions equals one onion?

9 chopped green onions yields one cup, meaning you’ll need a medium white onion to balance the amount.

When is it used?

You can use it as a substitute for green onions in cooked dishes or recipes that include cut or chopped scallions, such as in salads or sandwiches.

Recommended Dishes:

• Creamy white onion soup
• Mint Peas with White Onions
• Four Tomato Salsa

So in soup recipes, you can replace scallions with shallots, shallots, and white onions.

Bonus: Pair it with olive oil instead of sesame oil to make a delicious cheesy-onion chicken skillet.

Yellow Onions

These are the usual or regular onions that we are all familiar with.

Yes, yellow or brown onions can also be a possible green onion substitute.

They have a balance of sweetness and astringency, which will add a unique but similar onion flavor to your dish.

Note: They are considered a better substitute for the scallion bulb. (Green Onion Substitute)

Can I Substitute Onion Powder for Green Onions?
Yeah! In recipes that call for the addition of scallions, you can use a pinch or even ½ teaspoon to achieve a similar flavor of scallions.

How to change?

1½ medium yellow onions equals half a cup (finely chopped or minced).

1 coarsely chopped large yellow onion yields half a cup.

If you want to dice the onions, you may need half of a small onion to make 2 tablespoons.

For example, you can use a small onion to replace a medium green onion.

When is it used?

You can use it as a substitute for green onions in dishes that contain some sweetness and require some caramelization or cooking. (Green Onion Substitute)

Recommended Dishes:

• Caramelized Onion Pizza
• Onion-Herb Focaccia
• french onion soup

Bonus: Pair with fennel instead of fenugreek to make a wonderful caramelized onion tart.

Red Onions

These are the sweetest of all onion varieties, so can you substitute red onions for green onions?

Yeah!

Red onions have a higher sugar content than white onions but may have a stronger odor.

The flavor profile of purplish red onions ranges from mild to spicy.

Note: They are very suitable for replacing the white part of green onions. (Green Onion Substitute)

They Are The Healthiest Onions
Red onions have higher amounts of antioxidants (which help fight cancer cells) such as anthocyanins and quercetin than any other onion variety.

How to change?

1 small red onion yields half a cup (chopped).

You can start by adding a small amount and gradually increase the amount to create the flavor you need for your meal.

When is it used?

You can use it instead of green onions in cooked or uncooked dishes.

Remember, the onion flavor may not be noticeable in cooked dishes, but it can add a mild flavor when used as a topping in salads, sandwiches or burgers.

Recommended Dishes:

• Egg Avocado Toast
• Red Potatoes with Beans
• Onion-Dijon Pork Chops

Bonus: Pair it with cayenne pepper or any hot substitute to make a delicious Cayenne rubbed chicken with avocado salsa.

Final thoughts

Pearl onions (baby onions), sweet onions (Walla Walla, Vidalia), Welsh Onion (long green onion; a type of green onion),

Garlic stalks and tree bulbs (a hybrid of the Welsh and common onion) can also be considered as other possible substitutes for scallions or scallions.

Whichever seasoning you choose instead of scallions, it’s important to consider the flavor and quantity of each one so as not to affect the final taste of your meal.

Finally,

Have you tried any of the mentioned substitutions?

Is it correct? Share your thoughts with us below.

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