Shallot Curls

1. Choose young fresh shallots with fairly thick bulbs. Cut bulb from shallot just where it starts to turn green, as shown in picture. (The bulbs can be used for cooking.) If shallots are long, trim green tops, leaving about 10 cm (4 in).

2. With sharp scissors, cut each green top down to where the hard stem starts. Make approximately eight cuts in each.

3. Put shallots in bowl of cold water with ice cubes. Refrigerate until shallots curl, approximately 30 minutes. These make an attractive garnish for Chinese food.