Food products preferred in USA

Ranchu,

Here I am adding pics of white pearl onions, pink pearl onions and the shallots so that you can see the difference. So far, I've used only the pink pearl onions. All three are different types of onions.

Hi Supriya,

Thanks! Sure, come back with more additions to this list. :)

Cheers

Originally Posted by SupriyaDinesh

Hi krithika,
Informative thread.I will come back after checking the prices.

Ranchu: There are two type of small onions- white and red- its called shallots and pearl onion respectively.both are available in walmart.

I'd like to jump into the conversation with a little information about onions in the USA. To my knowledge you can't get those tiny red onions that are so wonderful for acchaar in India. But we have some other types with specific uses that are very nice.

Those tiny white onions are boiling onions...they stand up to long cooking in liquid which makes them softish and sweet. Sometimes they are used in stews of various sorts or they can be boiled in salted water and eaten on a dark winters night meal steaming and covered in butter.

The common yellow and white onions are winter onions that store well for months. They are used in so many dishes and stand up to frying nicely and also to cooking in liquids.

Scallions aka green onions are used in salads and stir fries.

There are also summer onions that do not store well but are known for their delicate sweet flavor. Some of these are no suited well for cooking but for eating fresh in salads. Some popular varieties are Walla Walla Sweeties from Washington State, Vidalia from Georgia, and the now somewhat hard to find Pine Island from New York State.

Chives are often grown in gardens in the summer and used on baked potatoes or salads.

Hi Tina,

Thanks for all the information about different types of onions. So far I've used the big red onions, big white onions, big light brown onions.

I've not used shallots or the small white onions.

I've used the red small onions extensively, infact the first individual picture was the packet I had at home. The second set of pics, I had taken online.

Yes, I've made use of scallions and chives which are available in the american and the Indian stores. I've made use of scallions in salads, pulaos,soups and in noodles.

But, FYI, I do get the small red onions (called 100% pearl onions) in the Indian grocery stores (so far in California, Florida, NJ, Virginia) and even in Walmart. These are extremely suited for Indian cooking (in Sambars,bisibelabhath,upmas and for any recipe that calls for the small onions).

The price per packet is $2.99

Krithika:
Glad you have found those little red onions...they are yummy. Obviously I am too far out in the country.... : )

I love shallots made into a pickle....I made an Indian recipe a couple years ago and doled them out like gold.

Soon for a very brief period in the spring and hard to find for sale will be ramps. These are wild onions that some people pick in the wild. They are not like regular onions and have a very very strong smell (some people only cook them outside as the smell lingers for three days) but a very very delicious taste.

Hi Krithika,
Wow ..cool and informative thread..Will definitely serve as a guide for new people here..You have covered almost everything ..
Additionaly,I used to buy Whole Kernel corn (can) , for cereals Cinnamon toast crunch..from Costco..
And regarding All purpose flour (maida), which one is preferred..The ones we get in our Indian stores or local American stores..Is both the same?

Thanks
Varalakshmi

Hi Vaseera,

Thanks for joining me here.

Usually, I buy the frozen corns from Trader Joe's or Walmart.

I get the Maida (all purpose flour) from the Indian grocery stores. So far, never bought it in the american stores.

Some say it is the same,but others feel that there is a difference. Infact, when my mom came here she felt that the Maida I bought here from the Indian grocery was different from the one she bought in Chennai!

Do add more to the list..!

Cheers
Krithika

Thanks again..
So far I am buying All purpose flour from Indian stores only..But whenever I passed the aisle containing that in American stores, there will be a fight between my mind and hand..whether to pick that or not..
Its intersting to note that maida we use here is different from that one in Chennai

hi,

I buy Swad products from indian stores like

Dalda
Biryani spices - swad
Vatana - Swad
Poha - Swad
Suji rava- Swad
Ghee - Swad
Papad
Nescafe coffee
Puffed rice(maramaralu) - swad
Rice -- Raja foods sona masuri
Chapati atta - Bhavani
Long rain rice - i bought for preparing dosa from costco long time back.
Miada - swad
besan flour - swad
vegetables, some time onions from indian store


Semilona- mostly i will buy this from Grand mart with brand name Goya Angle Hair.I like as semolina upma comes out good than normal Bambino semolina.
Garlic bread, agar-agar china grass ,moong dal for pesarattu , Frozen parathas from Grand mart.

I do buy bread crumbs, Pepperidge Puff and pastry sheets , Swiss milk,forzen peas, corns, Natural promise vegetable Chips, Storeman Whole wheat bread, sugar,juices etc... in Giant

onion and tomota cost are too high here in US

Hi Madhuri,

Those are excellent additions to the list.

As for tomatoes, they are a little expensive.

Roma tomatoes on the vine (from Costco) and Walmart are good.
Sometimes, I do get the canned tomatoes (Hunts or Del Monte) from Walmart/Costco. They are excellent.

I buy only small onions from the Indian stores. I feel the big onions (red & white) are of better quality in American stores.

You've mentioned Bhavani for Chapathi atta, are they sold throughout US or only in that particular store?

As for Poha, I buy BANSI brand.

Any reason why you don't make ghee at home? We do get good quality unsalted butter from Costco and Trader Joe's. Home-made ghee has excellent flavour and taste.