Shallot

The shallot is a type of onion, specifically a botanical variety of the species Allium cepa.

The shallot was formerly classified as a separate species, A. ascalonicum, a name now considered a synonym of the currently accepted name. Like garlic, shallots are formed in clusters of offsets with a head composed of multiple cloves. The skin colour of shallots can vary from golden brown to gray to rose red, and their off-white flesh is usually tinged with green or magenta.

In planting, the tops of the bulbs should be kept a little above ground, and the soil surrounding the bulbs is often drawn away when the roots have taken hold. They come to maturity in summer, although fresh shallots can now be found year-round in supermarkets. Shallots should not be planted on ground recently manured.