Lime Pickled Onions Cebollas Encurtidas Recipes

CEBOLLAS ENCURTIDAS (PICKLED ONIONS)

Steps:

• With a stainless-steel knife, trim onions by making shallow, cone-shaped cuts on both ends. Peel away the papery outer layers of skin and any damaged or discolored layers. With the same knife or a mandoline, thinly slice onions crosswise to make rings. Transfer to a large bowl, and sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of the salt, working it in with your hands. Taste, and sprinkle in more salt as needed to achieve a salty flavor that's not overwhelming. Add lime juice and optional zest to increase flavor.
• At this point there is brine building at the bottom. Press your onions into a jar or crock. More brine will release at this stage, and you should see brine above the onions. Top the ferment with a quart-sized ziptop bag. Press the plastic down onto the top of the ferment, and then fill it with water and seal; this will act as both follower and weight.
• Set aside on a baking sheet to ferment, somewhere out of direct sunlight, and cool for 7 to 14 days. Check daily to make sure onions are submerged, pressing down as needed to bring the brine to the surface. You may see scum on top; it's generally harmless, but if you see mold, scoop it out.
• You can start to test the ferment on day 7. It's ready when the onions are translucent, have lost their sharp bite and are pickle-y tasting without the strong acidity of vinegar.
• Store in jars, leaving as little headroom as possible, and tamping the onions down under the brine. Tighten the lids; then store in the fridge. This ferment will keep, refrigerated, for 18 months.

CEBOLLAS ENCURTIDAS (ECUADORIAN PICKLED RED ONIONS)

Steps:

• Put the onions in a bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover.
• Let stand for 15 minutes, then drain and rinse the onions with cool water.
• Mix the onions with the lime juice, salt and pepper.
• Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before using.
• Will keep for 2 or 3 days.

CEBOLLAS CURTIDAS (MEXICAN PICKLED ONIONS)

Steps:

• Put beets in medium saucepan and add garlic, bay leaves, vinegar and 4 cups water.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Put onions in a medium bowl. Strain hot beet cooking liquid over onions and set aside to rest until onions soften slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Drain onions and return to bowl. Add sour orange juice (or lime juice, lime zest and grapefruit juice) and salt to taste and toss well.
• Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.