1 large red (almost purple!) onion
ice and water
salt
Juice of 1 lime or lemon
optional: sliced green chillies, diced tomato, fresh cilantro leaves (minced or whole), red chilli powder, or chaat masala
Trim off the ends of the red onion and peel away the dry outer layer. Quarter the onion, then thinly slice along the "equator" to produce papery thin or just merely thin semicircles (as you prefer). Put water into a bowl, salt it, add the ice, then put the onion slices into the bowl and briefly toss/mix using fingers. Let the onion sit in the salted ice water for at least a few minutes for the sting to leech out - you can taste-test a slice every now and then to see how long you prefer the onion to sit (I like it after just a few minutes).
Drain and rinse the onion slices, place in a small serving dish, and toss with the lemon or lime juice (depending on which flavor you prefer).
Garnish/season as you prefer - some people like to top it with minced fresh cilantro or mix that in or add a bit of diced tomato, some like it hot with sliced green chillies or red chilli powder, some like to add chaat masala.
Miz, What a simple and refreshing salad. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeletethanks, anj! this one could only be eaten on its own by true onion-lovers, even with the sting leeched out. but it's perfect with biryani and raita, or as an accompaniment to other indian dishes. i also use it on baja-style fish tacos!
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