India’s tryst with pickles is the one to behold. The tangy, spicy and acidic side dish is ubiquitous to most Indian thalis. Personally, I don’t consider an Indian meal to be complete without a pickle on the side. It completes the whole meal.
Growing up in East India, I was unaware of the gem that simple onion pickles are. My first tryst with these pickles happened when I went to a Punjabi friend’s place for dinner and was served onion rings coated with a spicy and zingy blend. The pickle complimented the other dishes in the thali and completed the entire meal. Another such onion pickle is sirka pyaaz that I was unversed of till the time I went to Delhi. Served with piping hot parathas and a chutney on the side, sirka pyaaz is often maroonish in colour from the addition of beetroots in the liquid it is soaked in and is acidic and delicious. Are you planning to make these pickles at home? Try to keep these tips in mind while making these pickles at home for the best results.
Sirka Pyaaz
1. For sirka pyaaz, use small onions that can be eaten as they are. Do not slice/chop/ them before soaking them in the vinegar mixture.
2. Mark ‘X’ without cutting them fully to instill the flavours in them.
3. If you don’t have beetroot for the soaking liquid, try adding red food colour along with half a teaspoon of sugar for the same flavour and colour.
4. Cool the liquid mixture completely before transferring it to a jar before adding the vinegar. Shake it well to combine everything well.
5. Rest the onions in the liquid for at least 24 hours for best results.
Lachha Pyaaz
1. For lachha pyaaz, use large onions for the rings.
2. Don’t forget to deseed the green chillies before chopping them. As the salad is generally eaten as it is, the seeds of the chillies will make it overly spicy.
3. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to add the much-needed acidity to the salad.
4. Toss the onion rings in the spice blend to coat them well in it.
5. Garnish the rings with coriander leaves for freshness and flavour.
We hope these tips will help you make perfectly flavourful sirka pyaaz and lachha pyaaz at home.
