(BPT) - You may have noticed more appetizers and entrees draped with pickled onions in the last couple of years. You may even have been adventurous enough to try them, learning how their tartness and onion flavor kick every dish up a notch.
Pickling has been around some 4,000 years to preserve vegetables. It became popular in 18th century England to preserve food, according to savoringthepast.net. Pickled onions are traditionally served with fish and chips or with what is called a ploughman’s lunch, a dish of bread, cheese and onions — part of the English diet for centuries.
Today, pickled onions are used all over the world in a variety of dishes.
As with fashion, food trends come and go, and the pickled onion has made a resurgence in the U.S. in recent years. According to a Datassential survey on menu trends, the use of pickled onions has grown 191 percent in restaurants and diners in the U.S. in the last four years. From 2016-17, their use grew 8 percent. Chefs have learned the pickled onion adds an interesting twist when paired with burgers, dogs, salads and sandwiches.
Adding pickled onions to your dishes doesn’t have to be the work of a 5-star restaurant chef. Pickling onions is easier than expected, and it adds a delicious kick to any dish you’re working on for dinner, lunch or even your tailgating dogs.
Pickled onions are great make-ahead options for garnishing meats, adding to salads or sandwiches. While healthier for you, you’ll not be giving up the flavor.
Pickled Ginger Onion Relish
Yields: 3 cups
Ingredients:
3 cups onions, red, sliced 1/8-inch thick
3/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 cup pickled ginger with juices
Directions:
Place onions into a bowl and cover with icy water for 10 minutes. Drain when ready to use. In a saucepan, heat vinegar, honey, salt and pepper over low heat just until boiling. Remove from heat. Pour over drained onions and mix well. Stir in ginger with juices and mix. Cover and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Place in a covered container and refrigerate at least 24 hours before using.
Recipe provided by the National Onion Association.
