Katie Lees Pickled Onion Recipes

PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Put the onions in a medium bowl. Combine the vinegar, sugar, coriander, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Pour the mixture over the onions, cover and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

CURRIED CHICKPEA SALAD PITAS

Steps:

• Add the mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, curry powder, honey, salt and pepper to a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the chickpeas and pulse until the chickpeas are slightly smashed, 5 or 6 more times.
• Empty the mixture into a serving bowl. Fold in the raisins and cilantro until everything is fully coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve in a pita with cabbage mix and Ryan's Pickled Onions.
• Add the onions, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, sugar, peppercorns, salt and 1 cup water to a glass pint jar. Stir or shake well to mix. Let marinate overnight in the refrigerator, then keep for up to a month in the fridge.

GRILLED ONION BLOSSOM

Steps:

• For the dipping sauce: Combine the mayonnaise, horseradish, BBQ seasoning, mustard and some salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Store refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to serve.
• For the onion blossom: Preheat a grill to 350 degrees F. Spay a disposable pie plate with olive oil cooking spray.
• Peel the onion and trim the root end to remove any hairs. Slice the pointy stem end of the onion off. Turn the onion so the root end is facing up. Leaving a 1/2-inch rim around the root, make 4 cuts into the onion, down to the stem end. This results in 4 sections of the onion. Repeating the same motion, make 3 more cuts into each section of the onion, from root to stem end. Turn the onion over to reveal 16 onion petals. Use your hands to separate the layers of petals as needed.
• Place the onion stem-side up in the prepared pie plate. Generously spray all of the petals with the olive oil cooking spray. Sprinkle the onion with the BBQ seasoning.
• Put the onion on the grill and close the grill. Roast at 350 degrees F, checking halfway, until the onion blossom has opened, 40 to 45 minutes. The petals should be tender and darkened on the ends. Carefully remove the onion from the grill. Serve warm with the dipping sauce.

BARBECUE BACON WEDGE SALAD WITH GRILLED CORN

Steps:

• For the corn: Preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Rub the oil on the corn on the prepared baking sheet. Broil the corn, turning every few minutes, until charred on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the corn and let it cool slightly, then cut the kernels from the cob and set aside; discard the cob.
• For the bacon: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Mix the barbecue sauce, vinegar and sugar in a small bowl. Put the bacon on the prepared baking sheet and brush with a layer of the sauce. Bake, flipping and basting with more sauce every 10 minutes, until the bacon is cooked through and juicy and the sauce is sticky and dark, 45 to 55 minutes. Cut the bacon in half crosswise to yield 4 pieces.
• To assemble the salad: Arrange the wedges of lettuce on a large platter. Add the tomatoes, corn and bacon around the wedges. Season the lettuce and tomatoes with salt. Top with coarsely ground pepper. Spoon the dressing over the lettuce wedges and top with the pickled onions. Serve immediately.
• Mix the mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar and hot sauce in a medium bowl. Season with a pinch each of salt and pepper, then fold in the blue cheese, leaving a few lumps of cheese.
• Place the onions and peppercorns in a jar. Whisk the vinegars together with the sugar, salt and 1 cup water in a medium bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over the onions and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. The pickled onions will keep about 2 weeks in the fridge.

EASY PICKLES

Steps:

• In a nonreactive stockpot over medium-high heat, bring the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, peppercorns and bay leaf (and chile flakes, if using) to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the cucumbers (or pineapple), then remove from the heat and let cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until serving. Drain before serving. (Pickles keep, refrigerated, about 2 weeks.)