The common onion is a bulbous vegetable and herb with a very long
history of cultivation. It was particularly valued by the ancient
Egyptians, not only as food fit for pharaohs and the gods but also for
the common man. In fact, according to the writings of Herodotus, the
Greek historian known as the Father of History, the Egyptians paid out
nine tons of gold to secure enough onions to feed the workers building
the pyramids.
Dried, chopped onion has a milder flavor than fresh, but offers a
convenient option for long-term storage. Dehydrated onion also
eliminates the “crying” factor that slicing into the fresh bulb invokes.
