Pickled onions are a food item consisting of

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' , from Latin ), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classifie ...

s (cultivars of '' Allium cepa'') pickled in a solution of vinegar and

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

, often with other preservatives and flavourings. Channel 4 Recipes - Pickled Onions
Retrieved 26 May 2014 There is a variety of small white pickled onions known as 'silverskin' onions; due to imperfections they are pickled instead of being wasted. They are frequently used as the distinguishing feature of a variation on the Martini cocktail, known as a Gibson. Pickled onions are pickled in vinegar and can vary in size. Silverskin onions are pickled in white vinegar, and are considered to be small. Full sized onions, e.g., Spanish onions, can be pickled if sliced first.

By country

In India, pickled onions or shallots called SirkawalaPyaz is served with meals and tandoori foods. It's common in Indian restaurants and North Indian homes.Resturaunts in India serve pickled onions, bright pink in colour in small bowls in the center of the table. In

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, pickled onions are served in many Cantonese restaurants, especially around dinner time, as a small dish before the main course is served. In

Mexican cuisine Mexican cuisine consists of the cuisines and associated traditions of the modern country of Mexico. Its earliest roots lie in Mesoamerican Cuisine, Mesoamerican cuisine. Mexican cuisine's ingredients and methods arise from the area's first agr ...

, one preparation, cebollas encurtidas, has sliced red onions pickled in a mixture of citrus juices and vinegar, which is served as a garnish or condiment. Sometimes cooked beets are added, producing a more strongly pink coloured dish. Pickled red onions in bitter orange juice are especially emblematic of Yucatán cuisine, where they are used as a garnish or condiment, especially for seafood. In

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, they are served to accompany raclette, along with pickled gherkins. In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, the onions are traditionally eaten alongside

fish and chips Fish and chips is a hot dish consisting of batter (cooking), battered and fried fish, served with French fries, chips. Often considered the national dish of the United Kingdom, fish and chips originated in England in the 19th century. Today, ...

and with a ploughman's lunch. They are sometimes referred to simply as pickles. In the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, pickled onions are frequently served as a side dish and are also used as an ingredient in various regional recipes. File:Pickled onions (4581779304).jpg, Sliced pickled onions atop a sandwich File:Silberzwiebeln (9373-75).jpg, A dish of pickled silverskin onions File:Osseworst en Amsterdamse uitjes.JPG, 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).

References

Onion-based foods

Onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' , from Latin ), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classifie ...

American cuisine Dutch cuisine English cuisine Hong Kong cuisine Italian cuisine Mexican cuisine Swiss cuisine {{condiment-stub

By country

See also

References