Shallots??

I gather they are some kind of onion. ....having a difficult time finding them..  can anyone tel me  maybe what other name they can  be..   where  I can find them, or what I can replace them with??  sigh*

They're like a small onion, but stronger than an onion....WAY stronger.  They're lovely when cooked but preparing them requires a box of tissues!

We were able to find them at Sainsbury's ok.  I reckon if you have a local marketplace you might be able to find fresher ones there.

I wouldn't know what to replace them with because they're stronger than onions, but I guess onions might be ok.

 Best of luck! 

What's the recipe?  Maybe we can help come up with a substitute (or let you know if it's really necessary.)

And I usually see them at grocery stores here, you can even get the chopped ones in the spice aisle (bottled and dried), but I am in FL USA so I don't know that that helps you. 

If I don't have any shallots, I usually substitute with onion or a mix of spring onions (only the white parts) and chopped garlic.  I'm not sure if that's culinarily correct, but it works for me!   

If I don't have any shallots, I usually substitute with onion or a mix of spring onions (only the white parts) and chopped garlic.  I'm not sure if that's culinarily correct, but it works for me!   

That would be my suggestion too - a bit of garlic with a small onion. I just bought a bag of shallots at Tesco the other day - they should be pretty common. They're usually in a little bag near the onions, potatoes, etc.

OK  I will check  at Tesco and  sainsbury  if i get into town..

I am  attempting a bean salad with roasted red  onions  and it calls for shallots  to be  finely sliced  and  put in red wine vinegar overnight...   HHm I guess i  will wait.   sigh* 

if not i will take you up on yor sggestions.. Thanks  again!! 

If you put a lit candle near the area where you're chopping onions, shallots etc it burns off the gas they release that makes you cry. I put mine right beside the cutting board then rinse off the board as soon as I'm done.

No more tears

If you put a lit candle near the area where you're chopping onions, shallots etc it burns off the gas they release that makes you cry. I put mine right beside the cutting board then rinse off the board as soon as I'm done.

No more tears

Very interesting.  I'll have to try it. 

Another tip:  When you are finished chopping onions, rinse your hands in lemon juice, or rub a slice of lemon / lime over your hands before rinsing...it takes that icky onion-hand smell away...you know, the one that can last 2 days.

You can also rub your fingers across a stainless steel spoon under cold water.  Takes away the smell instantly and doesn't cost anything--unlike those fancy "finger sanitisers" they sell in cooking shops (they're just hunks of stainless steel and cost £10)!