For those of us who don’t regularly have fresh shallots in our pantries, these freeze-dried shallots are really useful to have around. Since they are freeze-dried rather than air-dried, they can be easily re-hydrated: just soak them in water for 30 seconds or so and they’re nearly identical to fresh. Shallots are related to the onion, but they have a sweeter, milder flavour. Typically seen in French cuisine, they are perfect for soups, salad dressings, marinades and sauces, and pair particularly well with white wine. Our freeze-dried shallots can be used anywhere that fresh shallots are called for. They are expensive due to the freeze-drying process, but since we discovered them, they are an absolute must-have in our kitchen. Finally, we always have shallots on hand when a recipe calls for them, instead of substituting onions!
