Pickled onion facts for kids
A jar of homemade pickled onions in spiced malt vinegar
|
|
| Associated national cuisine | British |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Onion |
| Ingredients generally used | Vinegar, salt, spices |
Pickled onions are a tasty snack made by soaking onions in a special liquid called vinegar. This liquid often has salt and other spices to give the onions a great flavor. It's a way to preserve onions so they last a long time!
There's a special type of small white pickled onion called 'silverskin' onions. These are often pickled because they might have small marks that make them less perfect for selling fresh. Instead of wasting them, they become delicious pickled treats! Sometimes, these tiny onions are used in a fancy drink called a Gibson cocktail.
Most pickled onions are about 25 millimetres (1 in) across and are pickled in a dark vinegar called malt vinegar. The smaller silverskin onions are usually pickled in clear white vinegar. Even bigger onions, like Spanish onions, can be pickled too, but they are usually sliced first.
Contents
Pickled Onions Around the World
Pickled onions are enjoyed in many different countries, often as a side dish or a garnish.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, pickled onions are a very popular snack. People often eat them with traditional meals like fish and chips. They are also a common part of a ploughman's lunch, which is a cold meal with bread, cheese, and pickles.
United States
In the southern parts of the United States, special sweet onions called Vidalia onions are sometimes pickled. These pickled onions are served as a side dish with meals.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, you might find pickled onions served in many Chinese restaurants, especially around dinner time. They are often brought to your table as a small appetizer before your main meal arrives.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, pickled onions are a common side dish for a meal called raclette. Raclette is a dish where cheese is melted and scraped onto potatoes. Pickled onions are served alongside pickled gherkins (small cucumbers) to add a tangy flavor.
Italy
In Italy, pickled onions are known by a different name: 'maggiolina'.
Mexico
In Mexican cuisine, there's a popular way to prepare pickled onions called cebollas encurtidas. This dish uses sliced red onions pickled in a mix of citrus juices (like lime or orange) and vinegar. They are often used as a garnish or a condiment to add flavor to other foods. Sometimes, cooked beets are added, which makes the onions a bright pink color! Pickled red onions made with bitter orange juice are especially famous in the Yucatan region of Mexico, where they are often served with seafood.
-
Sliced pickled onions atop a sandwich
-
A dish of pickled silverskin onions
-
Dutch Amsterdamse uitjes (at left): small onions pickled with spices; the yellow colour is from either turmeric or saffron. Here served with ossenworst (smoked minced beef).
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Cebollas encurtidas para niños
