Shortcut for Easy Curtido Recipe

Here's my shortcut for an easy curtido recipe. So I had this hankering for curtido and decided to make a batch. I did a few things differently from the following recipe. I took a shortcut and used the pre-shredded coleslaw mix with cabbage, red cabbage and carrots--what a timesaver! Instead of using a small onion, I just chopped up a green onion, since that's what I had in the refrigerator, though I know curtido is lovely with red onion. I didn't have cayenne pepper for some reason, so I just used paprika. Other than that I had all the other ingredients on hand so I just threw everything in a bowl and started mixing. I did use a bit more salt than the recipe indicated and since I love pepper, I used some freshly ground black pepper to season it up some more at the end. (NOTE: I did not blanch the cabbage in boiling water like the recipe says, either, because I had such finely shredded mix to begin with. I didn't feel it was necessary since the vinegar would break down the cabbage naturally.) It turned out pretty yummy! I just let the mixture chill in the refrigerator and it turned into a nice pickled slaw. The best part is that this curtido lasts in the refrigerator for a few days, and it just keeps getting better each day! I love the tangy, crunchy, pickley bite you get! If I don't have pupusas around, I just eat it with quesadillas or just on its own. It's so refreshing and light for a hot day! YUM!

CURTIDO: 

"This Salvadorean condiment resembling coleslaw is customarily paired with pupusas."

Ingredients

• 1 medium heads of cabbage, chopped
• 2 small carrots, grated
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Place the cabbage in boiling water for no more than one minute. Discard the water.

2. Put the cabbage in a large bowl and add grated carrots, sliced onion, cayenne, oregano, olive oil, salt, brown sugar, vinegar, and water.

3. Let chill in refrigerator at least two hours before serving.

Curtido Recipe Courtesy of Food.com