Torshi Piaz - Pickled Red Onions and Pickled Small White Onions

This quick ترشی پیاز torshi-e piaz is easy to make and doesn't require a long aging process before they can be eaten. Torshi is a very popular condiment that is served along with meals at lunch or dinner. There are almost as many different torshi varieties as there are popular vegetables and some pickles are made with more than one kind of vegetable. For example, the Iranian-style vegetable pickle recipe (torshi makhloot) calls for eight different vegetables that are cut into tiny pieces combined with many fresh and/or dried herbs and spices. There is also torshi miveh (fruit torshi), my mother's special recipe that's made with many different fruits and vegetables and is the only torshi that tastes a bit sweet because of the addition of dates and a piece of nabat (rock candy). Torshi is mostly made with vinegar and the taste is rather "torsh" (sour), hence the name. I find pickling very enjoyable and rather calming. Perhaps because it's not an everyday activity like cooking or maybe it's the idea of preservation that's appealing or simply the fact that torshi is delicious and irresistible.

Onions are widely used in Iranian cuisine. Usually, making piaz dagh (fried onions) is the first thing I do when I start to cook any kind of khoresh. Fried onions are also used as a garnish for ash (hearty soups) and some rice dishes. Onions are also served freshly sliced or sectioned with main dishes such as chelo kabab, lamb stew (abgoosht) and most rice and khoresh varieties for lunch. Sauteed, caramelized, pickled, or raw onions absolutely enhance the flavors of most dishes and are essential in cooking.

Thinly sliced, gorgeous pickled red onions and the petite pearly white pickled onions would make a good substitute for the raw onion that many of us grew up with and still enjoy (mostly on weekends).

Pickled Red Onions

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds medium red onions, peeled, thinly sliced
3-4 cups white distilled vinegar
2 tablespoons dried tarragon (tarkhoon)
1 tablespoon dried savory (marzeh)
1 tablespoon coriander seeds (tokhm-e geshniz)
1 tablespoon crushed angelica (golpar)
1 tablespoon nigella seeds (siah daneh) *optional
1 red hot dried pepper
3 tablespoons salt

Method:

1. In a small bowl combine dried tarragon, savory, coriander seeds, crushed angelica and nigella seeds. 
2. Pour vinegar in a non-reactive pot, place on the stove and bring to a gentle simmer on medium-low heat.
3. Stir in the spice mix, add the red pepper and let it gently simmer for about five minutes.
4. Place the sliced onions in the pot with vinegar and spices, add salt, gently stir with a wooden spoon, simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and let vinegar cool to room temperature.
6. Pour the onions and vinegar into a clean and dry glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Make sure all ingredients are covered by vinegar. Add more vinegar if needed. Close the lid tightly.
7. Store in a dry and cool place.
8. This pickle is ready in 2-3 days.

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Pickled Small White Onions

For pickled white onions, you may use the same spices listed in the above recipe and a pinch of turmeric for a tastier torshi. However, if you would like the onions to maintain their color, here's a simpler recipe with only a few ingredients.

Pickled Small White Onions

Ingredients:

1 pound small white onions, trim both ends of onions and peel
3-4 cups white distilled vinegar
3 tablespoons salt
1 red hot dried pepper
1 whole fresh tarragon (with leaves attached to stem), washed and placed on a paper towel to completely dry

Method:

1. Bring vinegar to a gentle simmer in a medium non-reactive pot on medium-low heat.
2. Place the onions and the red pepper into the pot, add salt and stir. Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
4. Transfer the onions and vinegar into a clean glass jar.  Place the whole tarragon and the pepper in the center of the jar, for easy removal later on. Add more vinegar if needed.
5. Close lid tightly. Keep in a cool and dry place.
6. This pickle is ready in 2-3 days.

Enjoy!