Difference between chives and scallions

We all know what onions are and how they form an essential part of our diets. Whenever we consume salads, onions are usually present in them. Be it the omelette in breakfast, or the various types of foods we consume each day, onions are usually present in the food we eat. However, what most of the people do not realize is the fact that there are various types of onions, each having a different origin, use and application in foods. What we talk about here, namely chives and scallions are also two types of onions.

Chives is the term used for the Allium schoenoprasum, which is the smallest species of the onion genus that is edible. It is a perennial plant and its native places include Asia, Europe and North of America. Chives are herbs that are commonly used all over the world. They are available in almost all grocery stores and can also be grown in home gardens. To grow them in your home gardens is actually very desirable as they have insect repellent characteristics and will control pests in your garden. Its scapes and immature flower buds that are unopened can be diced and used as an ingredient for the preparation of soups, potatoes and fish as well as a list of other dishes. The scallions also belong to the Allium species but it is different to chives in its relatively mild flavour of onion. It is usually used as a vegetable only and can be either consumed raw or eaten after cooking. Note that all variants of the Allium species have hollow green leaves but lack a properly developed root bulb. Other common names for scallions include green onion, salad onion, table onion, spring onion etc. Therefore we can now conclude that scallions are indeed those onions that we consume as part of our salads.

The leaves of the two types of onions have certain differences. The chives are normally thinner than scallions. Also, depending on the species, chives have leaves that are tubular or sometimes flat. Moving on, the part of the plant that we normally use is also different for the two variants. For chives, the upper green portion is used in order to garnish food dishes. In the case of scallions however, the upper green part as well as the lower white part are consumed.

We further move on by differentiating the two with respect to their culinary uses. Chives have a flavour but they lose it when they are cooked. Therefore, they are best in their raw form whereby they can be chopped finely or be cut into large pieces. Scallions do not lose their flavour and can be hence used raw or cooked depending on the recipe that they are part of.

Let us also shed light on some of the special recipes that the two can be used for. This will enable our readers to use the onion which is most suited to the dish that you wish to prepare. Chives, in their chopped form, can be used for garnishing purposes; for pancakes, baked dishes, sandwiches, fried vegetables, soups etc. As for scallions, they have a wide range of uses. For reasons mentioned above, they can be used for a number of recipes that are raw or cooked. Moreover, any recipe that requires white or green onion can use scallions. This means that you can also use scallions in place of chives should the need arise although this will not work the other way round.

Summary of differences expressed in points

1. Chives-Allium schoenoprasum, which is the smallest species of the onion genus that is edible, native places include Asia, Europe and North of America; scallions also belong to the Allium species, has a relatively mild flavour of onion, it is usually used as a vegetable only and can be either consumed raw or eaten after cooking

2. chives are normally thinner than scallions

3. depending on the species, chives have leaves that are tubular or sometimes flat

4. Chives-upper green portion is used in order to garnish food dishes; scallions-both the upper green part and lower white part are consumed

5. Chives have a flavour but they lose it when they are cooked, not so for scallions

6. Chives used for garnishing purposes; for pancakes, baked dishes, sandwiches, fried vegetables, soups etc..; scallions used for any recipe that requires white or green onions

7. Scallions can substitute for chives; chives cannot substitute for scallions

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