Onion and tomato curtido salad/salsa {Curtido de cebolla y tomate}

This is my easy recipe for curtido de cebolla y tomate or onion and tomato curtido salsa/salad. Curtido is a Latin style lime pickled red onion and tomato salad or lime marinated onion tomato salsa. Most South American main meals will be served with a small salad, and many times this salad will be a curtido or a lime marinated based salsa.

The most basic form of curtido is a basic onion curtido or cebollas encurtidas, 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.

Receta En Español

Onion and tomato curtido salsa/salad {Curtido de cebolla y tomate}

Recipe for curtido de cebolla y tomate, a Latin style lime pickled red onion and tomato salad or lime marinated onion tomato salsa

4.81 from 318 votes

Print Pin Your Questions and Comments

Course: Appetizer, Salad, Salsa, Side Dish

Cuisine: Ecuadorian, Latin

Keyword: Cilantro, Curtido, Ecuadorian pickled onion salsa, Encurtido, Lime, Marinated, Red onions, Tomato onion salsa

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Resting time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 portions

Ingredients

• 2 small red onions
• Juice of 3 limes
• 1 tablespoon oil light olive oil or avocado oil
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon salt + more to adjust taste

Instructions

• Slice the red onions very thinly using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer.
• Sprinkle the sliced onions with 1 tablespoon salt and rub the salt into the onions.
• Cover the onions with cold water and rinse well until the salt is removed. If the onions are very strong then you can let them rest in the water for 5-10 minutes.
• Drain the onions and place them in a bowl.
• Add the lime juice and a sprinkle of salt, let rest until the onions start to turn pinkish, about 5-10 minutes.
• The tomatoes can be sliced thinly or diced. Add the tomatoes to the onion curtido mix.
• Add the oil and the chopped cilantro. Mix well, taste and add additional salt to taste if needed.

Notes

Curtido variations can also include thinly sliced carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, radishes, etc.
To turn this curtido into a complete salad, serve over chopped lettuce or salad greens and add avocado slices.

This variation of curtido or salsa is made with of red onion and tomato. The onions and tomatoes are sliced thinly and marinated with lime juice and cilantro. In Ecuador, this salsa is a must-have side for traditional dishes such as hornado or roasted pork, encebollado de pescado, fritada, menestra con arroz, carne colorada, etc. This onion tomato salsa is also great as an appetizer or snack paired with plantain chips or with regular corn chips. 

Other popular curtido variations can also include different thinly sliced vegetables, such as carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, radishes, etc – most curtidos will at least have lime marinaated onions plus another vegetable/fruit. This tomato and onion curtido recipe is also a great base for a salad: simply add lettuce or salad greens, avocado slices, maybe some grilled shrimp and you have a wonderful salad.