Onion
Onion (Allium cepa L) is one of the
According to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, Pakistan is the fifth leading onion producing country now.
It is wonderful vegetable. It would have been a fruit if it had not been pungent and full of sulphuric compound. It comes in varying shapes and sizes; and has beneficial properties for health particularly being fat free. This vegetable is most often used to enhance flavors in a wide range of recipes, casseroles, pizzas, soups, stews and salads. Onions are also processed for fresh consumption. Onions are a vegetable for all seasons and tastes.
Recent research has suggested that onions in the diet may play a part in preventing heart disease and other ailments. Onion bulb is rich in phosphorus, calcium and carbohydrates. The pungency in onion is due to a volatile oil known as 'allyl-propyl disulphide. Its taste is sweet and pungent. It is an appetizer and helps in digestion of food. It is a source of energy and acts as stimulant increases vigor and vitality, acts as an expectorant and diuretic and slows the heartbeat, prevents flatulent and dyspepsia.
n ancient Egypt, physicians prescribed onion is various diseases. Studies have shown that it also helps eliminate free radicals in the body to enable low-density lipoprotein oxidation to protect and regenerate vitamin E and to inactivate the harmful effects of chelate metal ions. One onion contains 60 calories. It is also considered potent as a blood thinner and pallet elate inhibitors.
The green leaves, immature and mature bulbs are eaten raw or used in preparation of vegetables. Onions are most often used to enhance flavors in a wide range of recipes, soups, sauces casseroles, pizzas, stews salads and for seasoning foods. World onion production is estimated at approximately 105 billion pounds each year. The average annual onion consumption calculates to approximately 13.67 pounds of onions per person across the world the small bulbs one pickled in vinegar.
Pulkara , Desi Red , Pink Onion , Sariab Red ,Chiltan and Swat, etc.
The major onion growing districts are Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkar, N. Feroze and Badin in Sindh and in Punjab Kasur, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Vehari, Khaneawal, D.G. Khan, and Jhang and in NWFP Swat and in Baluchistan Mastung, Kalat, Chagai, Khuzdar and Turbat. These 21 districts account for more than 76 percent of the total production of onion in Pakistan. More than 50 percent of the total production comes from seven districts namely Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Swat, Mastung, Kalat and Turbat .