Nira grass

Green nira grass, a member of the allium family, has a distinctive pungency that adds richness to stir-fry dishes. The flavor tastes more of garlic than onion. The tough ends of the nira grass are chopped off and the rest is eaten in various Asian recipes. Yellow nira grass has a distinctive, mildly onion flavor. Its yellow color and mild taste come from being grown out of direct sunlight. 

These fine leaves don't last a long time so it's best to use them within a couple of days of purchase.  You can store any unused nira in a damp paper towel for a couple of days.

Where To Buy Nira Grass

You can find this product at some Whole Foods markets as well as your local Asian market if you have one nearby.  Depending on where you live you may just see the vegetable labeled as "chives".  You can also purchase it from Melissas.

If you don't have nira grass you can substitute equal amounts of:

• Chopped fresh chives
• OR - Finely chopped green onion tops