ONION CHALLAS /SARLAS - KERALA PICKLED ONIONS

   Challas/Sarlas is a quick fix pickled Onion somewhere brought into Kerala by western settlers. A quick and easy version of pickled Onions. It has come to be known as "Kerala's very own Onion Salad". This Onion Challas are served with most of the fried items in Kerala like Fish Fry, Cutlets, Beef, Chicken Fry etc., And it is also served along with Kerala Biriyani, Nei Choru/Ghee Rice,  Malabar Parotta, Chapati etc., Onion Challas/Sarlas is tangy, a bit sweet, and crunchy all at the same time. The combination of Onions & the acids makes for a more refreshing, complex flavour. They are delicious and what I love the most is the beautiful pink colour of this Onion Challas.

    I came across with this recipe while I was searching for Kerala Style Biriyanis. Though I have tasted it, have never given a second thought about it or tried making it at home. Now, when I am making Thalassery Biriyani Onion Challas has become a default side dish along with Curd Onion Raitha. Onion Challas/Sarlas has a beautiful Pink colour which is quite unlikely to Onions. I was wondering how you can come up with this bright Pink Colour. But later I realized that it was the reaction between the Onion pigments & Vinegar which gave Onions a bright Pink colour. Even my husband was asking how I got this bright Pink Colour in this Salad.

    Onion Challas/Sarlas is incredibly simple to make. All you need is thinly sliced onions, an acid, a dash of Salt and a pinch of Sugar. It only takes about 5-10 Minutes to the maximum to get this Challas ready. Red Onions is the show maker here, but you can easily substitute it with white or yellow onions, although the colour you get from using Red Onion is stunning. Something happens as red onions sit in the brine — they become bright and pink.

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HOW TO MAKE ONION CHALLAS /SARLAS - KERALA PICKLED ONIONS

ONION CHALLAS /SARLAS - KERALA PICKLED ONIONS

INGREDIENTS:

Red Onions - 1 Cup

Green Chillies - 1 No. (Optional)

Salt - To Taste

Vinegar - 1 Tbspn

Water - 2 Tspns

Sugar - a Pinch(Optional)

METHOD:

• Peel, clean & wash the Onions.
• Cut it into thin slices.
• Place the sliced Onions in a bowl.
• Sprinkle it with a dash of Salt along with 2 Teaspoons of Water.
• Pour in the Vinegar and mix well. 
• Now you have to mix the Onions. The best way is to use your hands.
• Rub it well with your finger until each slice of Onion is well separated and mixed well with Salt & Vinegar. 
• Leave this aside for about 5-7 Minutes. 
• Once soaked, Onions would have oozed out some water from it.
• Gently squeeze out the Onions and discard the water.
• Now add thinly sliced Green Chillies.
• Adjust the amount of Salt and add a pinch of Sugar.
• Onion Challas/Sarlas is ready to be served.
• Serve Onion Challas along with Fish Fry, Cutlets, Beef, Chicken Fry etc., 
• It can also be served along with Kerala Biriyani, Nei Choru/Ghee Rice,  Malabar Parotta, Chapati etc.,

NOTES:

• Red Onions play a major role in turning the Salad into bright Pink Colour. But it can be substituted with White/Yellow Onions too.
• I have used White Rice Wine Vinegar in this recipe.
• If you like it to be a bit spicy then go ahead by adding Green Chillies. But it is truly optional.
• Make sure not to add too much salt while mixing up the Onions with Vinegar, which can make this Salad Salty. 
• Gently squeeze out the Onions once soaked and discard the water.