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overpowering onion

I made homemade salsa and found the onion I used had a very overpowering flavor that has ruined the salsa. Is there any way to correct this or should the salsa be thrown out? Unfortunately I made a large 3 pound batch.

Marri
  • Posted by: Marri
  • July 24, 2013
  • 45463 views
  • 7 Comments

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nutcakes
nutcakesJuly 27, 2013
I agree on the suggestion to add lime juice or vinegar.
Sam1148
Sam1148July 27, 2013
I've found this happening in late winter when onions have been stored for long periods of time. Or shipped from the southern hemisphere.

Very bitter...very sulfur and there's not much you can do for it except use it as a learning experience and taste the onion before using it.
I'm rather suprised this has happned to you in the summer months where onions are usually sweeter and not stored----but then again your source for onions might be ditching some long term storage nitrogen stored onions from the winter or last year and clearing out their warehouse.


stagneskitchen
stagneskitchenJuly 27, 2013
Dice the onion, run under water in a fine mesh sieve. Some of the pungent flavors will dissipate. I also love using fresh sweet onions for applications like this... Guac, salas, etc. shallots also works nicely for a bit more mild flavor.
dymnyno
dymnynoJuly 26, 2013
If you soak the onion slices in ice water for about 20 minutes the flavor will mellow out.
PazzoNico
PazzoNicoJuly 25, 2013
...Or some roasted or raw sweet corn.
PazzoNico
PazzoNicoJuly 25, 2013
Is there already some sort of acid in the salsa? The acid (lemon/lime juice, vinegar, etc.) will mellow out the onion the longer it marinates in the fridge.
You can also try adding a couple pinches of sugar or a squeeze of honey/agave to mellow it out. That, or some sort of other sweet ingredient (like a fruit; mango, apple, pineapple, etc.) to cut the onion flavor.
Or, just make it a 3 1/2 pound batch and leave out the onion in the last round of ingredients. I.e. more tomatoes and herbs.
Benny
BennyJuly 24, 2013
You might try taking half of it out, then add more salsa ingredients (minus the onion).

Either toss the other half or try to incorporate it into some other use. Depending on what's in your salsa, you can make gazpacho, or use it in a sauce.
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