And does it~really~matter if you swap one for the other? The produce aisle is overflowing with look-alikes: zucchini and cucumbers, sweet potatoes and yams, plantains and bananas, onions and shallots.

I adore shallots. These little alliums give a beguiling oniony-garlicky flavor and fragrance to all sorts of dishes. I use them raw in salad dressings, caramelize them until they melt for topping ...

The produce aisle is overflowing with look-alikes: zucchini and cucumbers, sweet potatoes and yams, plantains and bananas, onions and shallots. The flavor—and sometimes the internal texture and ...