Jan 04 2008
Curtido de cebolla y tomate / Pickled red onion and tomato salad

Most Ecuadorean main meals will be served with a small salad, and many times this salad will be a curtido or have some curtido added to it. The most basic form of curtido is a basic onion curtido, it is great nice and fresh, but sometimes it is even better the day after, I usually make a large batch and keep in the fridge, adding it to salads as needed.
This specific curtido of red onion and tomato is usually served as a side for hornado, encebollado de pescado, fritada, menestra con arroz, carne colorada, etc.
Ingredients:
2 small red onions
Juice of 3 limes
1 tablespoon oil (sunflower or canola)
3 tomatoes
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon salt + more to adjust taste
Preparation:
- Cut the onion in half, slice very finely and place in a bowl
- Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt and let rest for about 10 minutes
- Cover the onions with lukewarm water and let rest for another 10 minutes
- Rinse and drain the onions
- Add the lime juice and the oil, place in the fridge until about 30 minutes before serving
- Cut the tomatoes in half and slice very finely
- Mix the onions, sliced tomatoes and cilantro, taste and add salt if necessary.
Serving suggestion – for a more complete salad serve with chopped lettuce and avocado slices.

