Description
Zesty purple pickled onions elevate any dish with tangy Mexican-inspired flavor. Crisp, quick-marinated slices bring vibrant color and sharp bite to tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) pickling onions or shallots
- 212 pints (1.4 liters) water
- 1 pound (450 grams) salt
Pickling Liquid:
- 1 pint (570 milliliters) spiced vinegar
Instructions
- Create a saltwater solution by gently heating water and salt until completely dissolved, then allow to cool to room temperature.
- Submerge whole onions in the brine, ensuring they remain fully covered by placing a weight on top, and let them marinate for an entire day.
- Remove onions from initial brine, carefully peel away outer layers, and transfer to a fresh saltwater bath for a comprehensive 12-day curing process.
- Thoroughly sanitize glass preservation containers using boiling water or sterilization method to eliminate potential bacteria.
- Carefully arrange peeled onions into sterilized jars, ensuring compact but not overly compressed placement.
- Prepare a spiced vinegar mixture with aromatic herbs and spices, then pour the cold liquid over the onions, completely covering them.
- Securely seal jars with tight-fitting lids, attach identifying labels with preparation date, and store in a consistently cool, dark environment away from direct sunlight.
- Allow pickled onions to mature and develop complex flavors for a minimum of 14 days before consuming for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Opt for smaller onions like pearl or baby varieties for quicker pickling and more uniform texture.
- Use white vinegar with spices like peppercorns, bay leaves, and mustard seeds to enhance flavor complexity.
- Ensure complete salt dissolution and cool brine temperature to prevent onion softening and maintain crisp texture.
- Store pickled onions in sterilized glass jars for up to 6 months in a cool, dark pantry, allowing flavors to develop and intensify.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Pickling
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 0 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 112500 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.5 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg