Discovering the Distinct Charm of These Onion Cousins
Shallots and leeks may not be as famous as yellow onions or red onions, but these flavorful onion cousins bring something truly special to the table. Both are part of the alliums family, which also includes green onions, garlic, and spring onions—but each has its own distinct flavor and cooking personality.
If you’ve ever wondered about shallots vs leeks, or asked yourself “are leeks onions?” or “are leeks and shallots the same?,” this guide will help you understand why both deserve a spot in your kitchen garden and your favorite recipes.
What Is the Difference Between a Shallot and a Leek?
Shallots (Allium cepa): Delicate and Flavorful
Shallots (Allium cepa) look like small onions with papery skin and form in clusters rather than single bulbs. Their milder and sweeter flavor combines the onions taste with a subtle hint of garlic, giving sauces, salads, and fried rice a balanced, subtle flavor. They can be used raw or cooked—finely minced shallots bring brightness to vinaigrettes, while caramelized shallots add depth to soups and stews.
Home cooks love shallots because they’re convenient for recipes that call for just a bit of onion flavor without overpowering the dish. You can easily grow your own shallots using shallot seeds, or learn more in our article What Are Shallots and Companion Planting: The Best Plants to Grow with Shallots.
Leeks: Elegant and Mild
Leeks look like oversized green onions, with long green leaves, light green stalks, and firm white bulbs at the base. Unlike their sharper onion cousins, leeks have a mild flavor and a milder and sweeter taste that shines in soups and stews, risottos, and casseroles.
They can be enjoyed raw or cooked—thinly sliced in salads for crunch or sautéed in olive oil and butter for a silky texture. Their gentle sweetness makes them perfect for dishes like potato leek soup or grilled leeks served as a side dish.
For gardeners, leeks are rewarding and easy to grow. Explore leek seeds and follow our detailed How to Grow Leeks: A Growing Guide.
Why Leeks and Shallots Deserve More Attention
When it comes to leeks vs shallots, both offer versatility beyond regular onions. Shallots lend rich complexity to dressings, stir-fries, and fried rice, while leeks elevate soups and stews with their soft sweetness.
Gardeners can also explore other members of the alliums family such as onion sets and potato onions. Growing your own means fresher ingredients and fuller flavor. To learn more about alliums, check out our video Growing Onions, Leeks, and Shallots.
When harvesting, store your shallots and leeks properly to maintain freshness. A basket or pail allows for good air circulation, while multipurpose mesh tubing helps preserve bulbs longer in a cool, dry space.
4 comments
Linda, if your ground freezes, you may want to wait until the spring to plant. Otherwise you can plant this fall and just make sure you mulch your shallots with about 6-8 inches of straw or another mulch to keep them from freezing.
I live in Deer Park,Wash 99006. Can I plant shallots in fall in this area?
CS, yes you should be able to grow shallots and leeks, no problem. You would plant them in the fall and let them grow over the winter. They will be ready to harvest the next summer. The leeks you may be ready to harvest some sooner, even over the late winter, but in the spring as well.
I am in Zone 8A, on the northeastern NC coastal plain. Will I be able to grow even small-ish shallots or leeks? BTW, your California Early White do excellently here.