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In this simple step-by-step guide, learn how to cut shallots into various shapes and sizes. Slice them for salads, dice them for mirepoix, or mince them to add to vinaigrettes.

You may even find out how to cut shallots without crying!

diced, sliced, and minced shallots on a cutting board
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Cutting Shallots

Whether it’s a main ingredient in the base of a recipe, you are slicing them for a salad, or simply garnishing at the end, adding shallots adds flavor and to your dishes! But how do you peel, slice, or chop the shallots?

The process is really quick and easy! In just a few minutes you’ll have perfectly chopped shallots ready for use.

You can slice them to to use in this Boursin Chicken or mince them for use in these Easy Air Fryer Meatballs. Then try chopping them for use in this Bourbon Bacon Jam, or cut them into rings in this One Skillet Lemon Chicken Orzo.

Want to sharpen your knife skills? You might enjoy learning how to cut flank steakhow to cut a bell pepper, or how to cut green onions.

Recipes Using Shallots

After cutting 100s of shallots (maybe thousands!), I’ve mastered the best way to cut them for every recipe. Here are a handful of recipes we make often that use shallots.

minced shallots and herbs in a skillet

What is a Shallot?

A shallot is a kind of onion. The slightly sweet and pungent flavor is often described as a cross between an onion and garlic. They’re more elongated than yellow onions but possess a similar coloring to red onions. 

Many use raw shallots for salads, dressings, or garnishes.

You can also use cooked shallots variety of dishes, including stews, sauces, and soups. Shallots are prized for their versatility.

This makes them a popular ingredient in a wide range of cuisines, especially classic French cooking.

Shallots also possess a ton of health benefits, so adding them to your meal is delicious and nutritious! 

10 whole shallots laying on a countertop

Difference Between an Onion and a Shallot

Onions and shallots are both members of the allium family, but they are different in terms of flavor, appearance, and texture.

  1. Flavor: Onions have a sharp, pungent flavor that can be quite overpowering, while shallots are milder and sweeter, with a delicate, nuanced flavor.
  2. Appearance: Onions are usually round or oblong in shape, with white, yellow, or red skin. Shallots are smaller, more elongated, and have a reddish hue. 
  3. Uses: Onions are a staple in many cuisines and you can use them in a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to salads and stir-fries. Shallots are also used in a variety of dishes, but are often preferred for their subtle flavor and versatility.

Shopping for Shallots

Shallots are very common items found in grocery stores. They are typically found in the produce section! Here are some tips to find the best shallots to use:

  1. Look for firm, dry shallots without any soft spots.
  2. Choose shallots of similar size.
  3. Pick shallots with uniform coloring.
  4. Smell the shallot and choose one with a mild, sweet, and slightly pungent aroma.
diced and minced shallots on a cutting board

How to Trim and Peel Shallots

The first step is to trim and remove the skin of the shallot. Here’s a step-by-step guide to show you how to remove the skin.

Cut off the stem end of the shallot.

Stem and root end of a shallot

Use your fingers to peel the paper skin away from the shallot. You can also make a vertical score lengthwise down the shallot and peel the papery skin away. You can also slice off the

Note: A score is not the same as a cut! While both are methods of knife skill, a score does not go all the way through.

how to peel a shallot

Break the shallot bulb into separate pieces — there are usually two per shallot.

how to separate shallot after peeling

How to Cut Shallots 3 Ways

Depending on the recipe, you may need to cut your shallot into different respective sizes, including a chop, fine dice, mince, or sliced into rings! Follow these step-by-step photos to perfectly cut shallots.

Tip: Freeze the shallot for 10-15 minutes before cutting to make it easier to handle and to reduce any eye irritation!

Method 1: Diced or Minced Shallots

Diced shallots are great for soups and stews (in a mirepoix) and minced shallots are especially good in salad dressings.

  1. Horizontal slices: Place the flat side of the shallot down on the cutting board. With your knife parallel to the cutting board, make 1-2 horizontal cuts into the onion.
  2. Vertical cuts:  Make vertical cuts down the length of the shallot, starting at the root end and slicing toward the root.
  3. Cross-cuts: Using your knife, cut the shallot crosswise along the width of the shallot (opposite direction of step 4).

Tip: if you want julienned shallots, follow the instructions to make the vertical and horizontal cuts, without the crosscut.

how to cut shallots

Method 2: Minced Shallots

To mince shallots, you will follow the same steps as dicing but you will make much thinner slices to get smaller shallot pieces. Use a back-and-forth rocker motion with a chef’s knife to finely mince the shallots into tiny pieces.

Tip: Remember to keep the tips of your fingers tucked under as you make the cuts to avoid injury. And, as always, use a very sharp knife to make the process easier and safer!

how to mince shallots

Method 3: Rings

To thinly slice shallot rings, you’ll want to use a sharp knife and follow these steps. These are great for crispy shallots on top of burgers, salads, and more.

  1. Peel and trim: Follow the same instructions as above to trim and peel the shallot. Find the flattest part of each bulb and lay if flat on the cutting board.
  2. Cut into rings: Hold one half of the shallot steady with your fingers and make thin slices, starting at one end and working your way to the other. Then, separate the slices into rings.
how to cut shallots into rings

Expert Tips for Cutting a Shallot

  1. Use a very sharp knife: This makes it easier to cut and prevents the shallot from bruising.
  2. Freeze the shallot: To make it easier to handle and reduce any eye irritation.
  3. Cut off the root end: This will keep the slices together and prevent them from falling apart.
  4. Chop on a cutting board: Use a sturdy cutting board to prevent the knife from slipping.
  5. Be consistent: Consistently sized slices will cook more evenly.

Storing Shallots

Shallots can be stored in a few different ways to ensure that they stay fresh and flavorful for as long as possible:

  1. Room temperature storage: Store shallots (before cutting) in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or kitchen shelf. Avoid storing them near sources of heat.
  2. Refrigeration: place chopped shallots in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to up to 1 month. 
  3. Freeze: Chop the shallots and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. You can cook them straight from frozen but they may release more moisture into the dish this way.
satueed shallots and garlic in butter

Shallot FAQs

What is the best way to cut shallot?

The best way to cut a shallot is to peel away the skin, slice off the stem end, and make 1-2 slices horizontally and vertically, then turn the shallot and cut crosswise to get diced shallots. You can also lay the shallot flat on the cutting board and cut it crosswise into rings.

What part of the shallot do you use?

When cutting a shallot, you can use the white and light purple parts. Discard the stem, roots, and papery skin.

Is a shallot the whole bulb?

One shallot refers to the entire bulb inside the paper and skin, regardless of how many cloves are inside. Most shallots have 2 bulbs, similar to how garlic has several bulbs. 

How do you cut shallots without crying?

You can freeze them for 15 minutes or choose to store them in the fridge. Getting an onion cold helps reduce the amount of chemicals released when cutting.

Can you substitute shallots for onions?

You can substitute shallots for onions in many recipes. However, it’s important to note that shallots have a milder flavor than onions, so they may not provide the same level of pungency or desired robust flavor. In general, you can substitute one medium-sized shallot for one small onion, or use three to four shallots in place of one large onion.

whole shallots, diced shallots, and sliced shallots on a cutting board
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How to Cut Shallots

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
In this simple step-by-step guide, learn how to cut shallots into various shapes and sizes. Slice them for salads, dice them for mirepoix, or mince them to add to vinaigrettes.

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Servings: 1 shallot

Ingredients

  • 1 Shallot or more depending on the recipe

Instructions 

Peel Shallot

  • Slice off the top of the shallot, keeping the root in tact to hold the shallot together. Peel the outer layer or two off the shallot and discard. Alternately, score the side of the shallot and peel away the outer layer.
  • Separate the two smaller pieces of shallot if applicable, most bulbs have 2 separate pieces inside the outer layers. Pull them apart and slice them each individually.
  • If the shallot is large and doesn’t have a few separate pieces inside you can slice it in half lengthwise to cut on a flat surface and make it easier to work with.

Diced and Minced Shallots

  • Starting at the top end, where you sliced it off, and make 1-2 slices horizontally into the shallot, parallel to the cutting board, stopping just before you reach the root. Next, make 2-3 slices vertically along the length of the shallot, stopping just before the root.
  • You should be able to see the shallot separate into pieces, but not fall apart because the root is holding them in place.
  • Turn the shallot and cut it crosswise to dice it. The more horizontal and vertical cuts you make, the smaller the pieces of shallot when you cut it crosswise.
  • Minced shallots: spread the diced shallots evenly on the cutting board and use a back-and-forth motion with one hand on the handle and one on the top of the knife blade to quickly make smaller cuts. Move the knife back and forth through the shallots until they reach your desired size.

Rings

  • Lay the peel and separated shallots with their most flat side down on the cutting board lengthwise.
  • Starting at the sliced top end, make thin slices crosswise (perpindicular) to the shallot, working your way down until you reach the root.
  • Separate the shallot into rings and repeat with the other piece. Slice them in half lengthwise for half ring shallots.
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Notes

Remember to keep the tips of your fingers tucked under as you make the cuts to avoid injury. And, as always, use a sharp knife to make the process easier and safer.
Storage:
  1. Room temperature storage: Store whole shallots in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or kitchen shelf. Avoid storing them near sources of heat.
  2. Refrigeration: place chopped shallots in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to up to 1 month. 
  3. Freeze: Chop the shallots and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. You can cook them straight from frozen but they may release more moisture into the dish this way.

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Sharp chef's knife or pairing knife

Nutrition

Serving: 1shallot | Calories: 29kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 4.8mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 3.1g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 3.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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1 Comment

  1. Eric says:

    5 stars
    I used this tutorial before making your Pad Thai chicken and will remember these tips!