Ensalada Chilena (Chilean Tomato and Onion Salad)
In short: Ripe tomatoes and thinly sliced onion soaked briefly in water, dressed with oil, salt and cilantro, the fresh salad of every Chilean barbecue. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 150 kcal
Ensalada chilena is the salad on every Chilean table: ripe tomatoes and thin onion slices, dressed with oil, salt and plenty of cilantro. The onion is rinsed in cold or salted water first, which tames its bite and makes it sweeter. It is simple, so everything depends on tomatoes that smell and taste like tomatoes. Serve it with grilled meat, rice, fish or empanadas, ideally within the hour.
Instructions
- Put the sliced onion in a bowl, cover with cold water and add 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Soak for 10 minutes, then drain well and pat dry.
- Arrange the tomatoes on a shallow platter and scatter the onion over the top.
- Drizzle with the oil and lemon juice, then sprinkle with the remaining salt, some pepper and the cilantro.
- Rest for 10 minutes so the tomatoes release their juices and mix with the oil. Serve at room temperature.
Tips
- Use the ripest in-season tomatoes you can find, and do not refrigerate them, because cold dulls their flavor. Out of season, a pinch of sugar helps.
- For an even milder onion, use a sweet variety or soak the slices for 20 minutes, changing the water once.
Questions and answers
Can I make ensalada chilena ahead of time?
Slice and soak the onion up to 4 hours ahead, but dress the tomatoes within an hour of serving, since salt draws out their juice and makes the salad watery.
What goes with Chilean tomato salad?
Grilled meat, empanadas, rice dishes, fried fish and pastel de choclo all taste better with it.
Why do you soak the onion?
Soaking in cold salted water washes away sharp sulfur compounds. The onion turns milder and crisper and does not overpower the tomatoes.
How long does it take to make Ensalada Chilena (Chilean Tomato and Onion Salad)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ensalada Chilena (Chilean Tomato and Onion Salad)?
About 150 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 11 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 150 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 11 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
