Mildly aromatic herbaceous plant ( Allium ascalonicum ) of the lily family , probably of Asiatic origin, used to flavour foods.
Closely related to the onion and garlic , the shallot is a hardy perennial with short, small, cylindrical, and hollow leaves; lavender to red flowers in a compact umbel; and small, elongated, angular bulb s. Much like garlic, the bulbs develop in clusters on a common base. The leaves are sometimes eaten when green. The so-called shallot marketed extensively as green spring onions is in fact a form of onion.