Choosing Which Onion to Use - by Body-type

Understanding Body-typing in regards to cooking is like a beginning painter learning the strokes of the brush.

The mastery can come later with practice; in the meantime when we see another artist's painting or imagine our own next creating, we can begin to see how to put it together with the new tools we have gained.

A great recipe is artful on many levels, but what makes it truly superb is when it genuinely suits the person or people for whom it is meant.

Let's explore this with just one ingredient, the onion. There are many, many types of onion; from the long, slender chive to the stout, disk-shaped cipollini. I will use four common varieties which will give a good understanding; yellow, red/purple, white and green onion.

Just a note- these are my interpretations of the onion from a Body-typing perspective.

Which onion do I use for cooking?   Tara Baklund   TarasBook.com

Let's begin with the strongest of the bunch, the yellow onion. They have a strong, pungent flavor and will make all but the most experienced of chefs tear up. These are best suited for, and most enjoyed by those with Earth-type characteristics. The strong flavor has an Arid nature which stimulates the slow, steadiness of the Earth element. This is why is works well in very dense and Earthy foods like meat and creamy dishes. I find yellow onions add more zest to my chicken liver pate. Some say that this is a very multipurpose onion, although if you ask an Air-type they will likely find them rather strong. More on Air-types in a moment.

Which Body-type 'are you'? (and go ahead, ask me why I use '')

The red or purple is one of my favorites. It adds such beautiful color and a nice balance of flavor. It's great in salads as well as cooked, especially when you want some added color. The flavor is generally nicely balanced for all Body-types. As a general rule though, if you are having a person as a guest for dinner who is strong in the Air Element, opt for cooked onions only, or serve raw onions on the side.

White onions are my favorite. I find they are the sweetest of the non-sweet types when caramelized. I like to use them in vegetable dominant dishes as they do not compete with the other veggies for flavor. I like that they do not leave a strong after-taste like yellow onions do.

Green onions are the safest for all Body-types. They are mild in flavor but can still leave to strong of an aftertaste for Air-types.

Earthy people usually enjoy onions of all types and forms as the Arid nature of the onion balances the Earth Element. Fire-types general enjoy them as well unless they are experiencing an overheating of their digestive system. Watery people may go either way. Air-types are generally the most picky, and if they eat them at all prefer them to be cooked. If you are unsure whether to serve them raw to a group, choose the mild green onion or thinly sliced red onions.


Dia-blog - I find that the onion is one of those ingredients that specific Body-types really love or hate. Even Earth-type children love the strong flavor of the allium species and Air-dominant adults pick out onions from a dish as one would expect from a child. I bet you even have such a story to share!