Peppered Mackerel Pink Pickled Onion Salad Food

PICKLED MACKEREL

Steps:

• Remove any pin bones from the fish. Place fish in a dish or nonreactive pan with sides, and dust fish on both sides liberally with salt, about 1/3 cup, covering it completely. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Combine 1 cup of the vinegar with the kombu and sugar in a small saucepan and simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let steep for 3 minutes. Add remaining vinegar.
• Remove fish from refrigerator, rinse off the salt with cold water and pat fish dry. Rinse dish and return fish to the dish. Discard kombu and pour vinegar mixture over fish so it is completely submerged, cover dish and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Remove fish from vinegar mixture, pat dry, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 12 hours or longer before slicing.
• To serve: Rinse rice thoroughly and drain. Place in a saucepan with 1 cup cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook about 15 minutes, until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside 10 minutes, still covered. Uncover and allow to cool to room temperature.
• While rice is cooking, lightly toast sesame seeds in a small dry skillet. Fold sesame seeds and cucumber into cooked rice. Season to taste with salt.
• Place the rice in a mound on a serving dish or divide among 4 individual plates. Slice mackerel in half lengthwise, then cut each section into 8 pieces and arrange against the rice. Serve.

PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the first four ingredients until sugar and salt dissolve. Place onions and optional ingredients, if desired, into large glass jar; pour vinegar mixture over onions. Seal and let stand at least 2 hours at room temperature. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

PERFECT PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Cut onions into very thin slices; place in two 1-quart glass jars or one large bowl, packing them tightly together. Add garlic cloves, jalapeno slices, bay leaves, and pepper flakes.
• Combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and peppercorns in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Pour warm liquid over the onions and press down if necessary to submerge. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.