Laccha Onion (also known as Lachha Pyaaz) is crunchy, spicy and delicious Indian style onion salad made with Onions, spices, lemon juice, green chilies and cilantro.
This delightful laccha pyaaz is a culinary gem from Indian cuisine. Plus, the simplicity and versatility of this onion salad makes it a perfect addition to a variety of Indian dishes.
It not only heightens the taste of your Indian dishes but also adds the flavor, texture, and crunch to your meals.
Combining flavors like cardamom and coffee can result in surprising and delightful taste experiences.
Table of contents
About Lachha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
Lachha Pyaaz or Onion Lachha, is a simple yet mouth-watering side dish that is prepared using thinly sliced onions, some spices, lemon juice, green chilies and cilantro. This salad looks strikingly tempting and tastes enticingly flavorsome.
The delicate crunch and balanced flavors of this easy lachha onion salad has the power to transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences.
Whether you are looking for dishes to lift up traditional flavors or want to explore new salads, this classic Lachha Pyaaz is a must-have.
This easy salad elevates the palate and appearance of various savory dishes which makes it a staple accompaniment in Indian restaurants and households alike.
This indulging condiment imparts a burst of flavor that compliments a wide range of dishes. It is a wonderful accompaniment to chole bhature, paneer tikka, hariyali paneer tikka, dahi ke kabab, aloo kulcha, paneer paratha, paneer pakora, tandoori aloo paratha, and many more.
It is also a refreshing topping for roasted or fried papad, chole aloo tikki, pakora chaat, masala khichdi, or crispy fried chana masala.
For making this salad, you will need ribbon-like onion strips for making lachha onion. The skill of making perfect lachha onion lies in separating onion layers, resulting in beautiful onion rings.
The secret of making perfect laccha onion - lachha pyaaz is in the choice of onions. For this recipe it is preferred to use red onions due to their milder flavor and vibrant color. Red onions beautifully absorb the flavors while supporting the texture of onions.
In this recipe, red onions can be replaced with sweet onions.
Another key point is to soak the sliced onions in ice cold water for about 5-7 minutes, this soaking time reduces the sharpness and enhances their crispness as the water helps to firm up the onion rings. This way you get a gratifying crunch when you bite into them.
Water also reduces the pungency of raw onions which makes them more palatable.
This recipe doesn’t need many spices. Just a handful of spices are good enough to elevate the taste of this salad. However, feel free to season them with any of your favorite spice blends.
This Lachha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
✔︎ is simply irresistible
✔︎ is crunchy & crispy texture
✔︎ is flavorful and delightful
✔︎ is easy to prepare
✔︎ is beloved addition to dining table
✔︎ can be customized
✔︎ looks vibrant & pretty
✔︎ is loaded with authentic Indian flavors
✔︎ gets done in 5 minutes
✔︎ is vegetarian & gluten-free
Ingredients
- Red Onion: They are the base of this salad. They add crunch, mild sweetness and vibrant hue to this salad. For this recipe, red onions are peeled, sliced, and layers are separated in chilly water.
Though red onions are used traditionally, if you don’t like red onions then you can use sweet onions here.
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Chopped Green Chilies: Some chopped green chilies are added for heat, color contrast and fiery freshness. You can use both hot and mild chilies in this recipe.
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Chopped Coriander Leaves: Coriander leaves, also known as cilantro, are added for an herbal punch, freshness and a burst of green color to the mix. The taste of cilantro stunningly complements the spices and onions.
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Lemon: You will need the freshly squeezed lemon in this recipe. It makes every bite of this Lachha Pyaaz a delightful explosion of flavors as it adds a touch of zing, tang and citrusy essence that boosts the flavors of the other ingredients.
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Spices: I kept seasoning traditional and simple. To season this salad, I have used Kashmiri red chili powder to a mild heat and gentle warmth. Chat masala powder for a contrast in flavor and to impart a tangy and zesty kick.
Garam masala powder for an aromatic spicy taste, and black pepper powder for subtle piquancy. In this recipe, you can also use coriander powder or cumin powder. You can also add black salt to give it a burst of flavor and increases the overall taste.
Mango Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
Love mango salads? Then you should try this tropical flavor infused lachha pyaaz. For this recipe, add ripe mango slices to the salad. It adds a burst of color, texture and fruity aroma to the salad. The natural sweetness of mango complements the sharpness flavors of the onions.
Minty Yogurt Lachha Pyaaz
If you like mint flavored condiments, then this minty yogurt lachha pyaaz is for you. For making this variant, you need to make the same recipe. Mint and yogurt both add a cooling touch.
Just add 1 dollop of hung curd, and a handful of chopped mint leaves, and the rest of the recipe will be the same. This preparation is best served alongside grilled kabobs, or with a spicy curry.
Pickled Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
Enjoy relishing a pickl-y salad? Then you can turn this traditional salad into a delightful pickle. To make this pickled lachha pyaaz, simply marinate the onion rings in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and spices.
For this recipe, you need to allow the flavors to meld over a few days.
After marination, you get a tangy, spicy and slightly sweet condiment that can be served in many ways. You can add it to your sandwiches, burgers, or even as a side with stuffed parathas.
Lime and Jalapeno Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
For this recipe, swap green chili with jalapenos, and replace lemon juice with lime juice and zest. This Indo-Mexican inspired salad goes perfectly well with tacos, quesadillas, or with a hearty bowl of chili.
Nutty Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
To add a nutty crunch and more texture to this laccha onion salad, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of crushed roasted nuts like roasted peanuts, almonds or cashews to Lachha Pyaaz.
Smoky Lachha Onion
With a simple modification, you can turn this salad into a smoky salad. Simply place a steel bowl in the salad bowl with hot charcoal in it. Sprinkle some asafetida and drizzle ghee onto the hot charcoal. Cover the bowl at once with the lid and allow it to rest for some time.
Storage Tips
This Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz salad tastes best when served chilled. To store this salad, and to prevent odors from mingling it is best to store this salad in an air-tight container in a refrigerator.
For best taste, vibrant flavors, crispy texture it is best to enjoy this salad within 2-3 days. After 3 days, the salad loses its texture and flavor.
Variations
Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz Serving Suggestions
This is one of its kind salads that goes amazingly well with many Indian dishes.
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With Roti or Paratha: You can accompany it with any roti, parathas as a side dish or a filling.
Tandoori & Grilled Dishes: Or you can serve it along with tandoori dishes like tandoori paneer tikka, or tandoori garlic roti. Or you can also serve it with grilled meats and vegetables.
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Toppings: You can also use it as a topping for your salads or salsa such as grain salad, pasta salad, bean salad or a mango salsa. You can also use this salad as a topping for salsa or papads.
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Rice dishes: It is a lovely accompaniment of biryani, pulao, and fried rice. The tanginess and spiciness add a lovely contrast to the rich and fragrant rice dishes like veg biryani, paneer pulao, peas pulao, fried rice, or egg biryani.
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Chaat and Street Food: It can also be used as a topping for chats or street foods like samosa chaat, chips chaat, aloo tikki, bhel puri, chips chaat, or bread chat.
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Garnish: This salad also makes a beautiful garnish for dals, soups, stews, or curries.
Pro Tips and Tricks for making Best Laccha Onion - Laccha Pyaa
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Onions: For this recipe, you need to use the right type of onions. You can use red or sweet onions for this recipe, as they both have mild flavors and vibrant color. You need to use the onions that are firm.
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Soaking Onions: To reduce the sharpness of onions and to elevate the crunchiness, it is recommended to soak the sliced onions in ice cold water. The soaking of 5-7 minutes helps in achieving the perfect texture.
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Seasoning: This is a spicy salad recipe. If you want a mildly spicy taste, you can adjust the quantity of spices according to your taste buds. You can also experiment with added spices like roasted cumin powder, amchur (dried mango powder). You can even add some smoked paprika to add a smoky dimension to this salad.
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Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best for the tangy flavor. It not only enhances the taste of the onion rings, but also brings a hint of tanginess that cuts through the natural sweetness of the onions. However, if you don’t have fresh lemons then you can also use lime in this recipe. You can also use store-bought lemon juice.
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Customizing the Heat: For a milder version, make sure to remove the seeds from the green chilies before chopping. You can also add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
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Storage: Always store the Lachha Pyaaz in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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Herbs: To make it aromatic, I have added chopped cilantro. It adds a bright green color, which contrasts so well with the deep red color of onions. You can also add chopped mint or basil leaves to this salad.
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Layer Separation: The perfect layer separation gives the onions its characteristic lachha texture. For this recipe, we need to gently separate the layers of onion rings. You can separate the rings at the time of soaking or before soaking.
FAQ
What is Lachha Onion -Lachha Pyaaz?
Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz is a condiment prepared from sliced onion rings that are separated into delicate layers. Then these onion rings are soaked in iced water for a few minutes. After that, they are tossed with spices, green chilies, chopped cilantro, and lemon juice.
It is a crunchy salad that tastes good with many dishes.
Is Lachha Pyaaz spicy?
It is a spicy salad because it has red chili powder and chopped green chilies. If you want it to be less spicy, then you can reduce the amount of chili powder and green chilies. You can also try skipping garam masala powder.
How do I reduce the sharpness of onions for Lachha Pyaaz?
To reduce the pungency of onions, you need to soak the onions in cold water for about 10 minutes. It helps reduce their pungency and enhances their crunchiness. Once you have soaked the onions, drain them before adding the spices.
Can I customize the spiciness of Lachha Onion?
Yes, you can customize the spiciness of the laccha pyaaj. So to adjust the amount of heat, you can adjust red chili powder and chopped green chilies according to your heat preference.
Can I use white onions instead of red onions?
Using red onions is recommended for this recipe and they are sweet and have a mild flavor. However, if you don’t like the pungent flavors, then you can use white onions.
How long does Lachha Pyaaz stay fresh?
This onion lachha stays fresh for about 1 day when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can I make Lachha Pyaaz ahead of time?
Making lachha pyaj in advance is doable. You can make the spice blend ahead of time. Also, peel the onions and keep them in an airtight container. When you want to salad, slice onions, soak them and toss them with spices and herbs.
Can I use Lachha Pyaaz with dishes other than Indian cuisine?
You can use this onion salad with non-Indian dishes like sandwiches, grilled cheese, grilled vegetables, salads, grilled meats, tacos, and many more dishes.
Can I use bottled lemon juice for Lachha Pyaaz?
Freshly squeezed lemon juice is recommended to get the best tangy flavor. Bottled lemon juice might lack the freshness and vibrant citrus notes.
Can I store Lachha Pyaaz at room temperature?
No, you cannot. To keep its freshness, Lachha Pyaj should only be stored in the refrigerator.
Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz (Step-by-step photo instructions)
For making Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
- Cut each onion into thin slices, then separate the slices into individual rings, discarding the small (center part) rings. Place ice cubes in a large bowl and fill the bowl with cold water. Add the onion rings to the iced water and let them soak for about 5-7 minutes. This soaking step helps reduce the pungency of the onions and enhances their crispness. After the soaking period, remove the onions from the water and transfer them to a mixing bowl using a slotted spoon.
- Add chopped coriander leaves, chopped green chilies, red chili powder, chaat masala powder, garam masala powder, and ground black pepper powder. Drizzle with lemon juice and gently toss and mix all the ingredients until the spices coat the onion rings evenly. Be careful not to break or crush the delicate onion layers. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and serve immediately or place it in an airtight container to store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
Recipe Card
Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz [Recipe]
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 6 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Salads | Indian | 6 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 14 calories | 1 |
INGREDIENTS
For Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
- 3 medium-sized red onions (tops and bottoms removed)
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
- 1 green chili, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri Red chili powder, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala powder, or as per taste
- 1/8 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Water (for soaking)
- Handful of ice cubes
INSTRUCTIONS:
For making Laccha Onion - Lachha Pyaaz
- Cut each onion into thin slices, then separate the slices into individual rings, discarding the small (center part) rings. Place ice cubes in a large bowl and fill the bowl with cold water. Add the onion rings to the iced water and let them soak for about 5-7 minutes. This soaking step helps reduce the pungency of the onions and enhances their crispness. After the soaking period, remove the onions from the water and transfer them to a mixing bowl using a slotted spoon.
- Add chopped coriander leaves, chopped green chilies, red chili powder, chaat masala powder, garam masala powder, and ground black pepper powder. Drizzle with lemon juice and gently toss and mix all the ingredients until the spices coat the onion rings evenly. Be careful not to break or crush the delicate onion layers. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and serve immediately or place it in an airtight container to store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
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NOTES:
- To reduce the sharpness of onions and to elevate the crunchiness, it is recommended to soak the sliced onions in ice cold water. The soaking of 5-7 minutes helps in achieving the perfect texture.
- This is a spicy salad recipe. If you want a mildly spicy taste, you can adjust the quantity of spices according to your taste buds. You can also experiment with added spices like roasted cumin powder, amchur (dried mango powder). You can even add some smoked paprika to add a smoky dimension to this salad.
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Author: Anupama
Recipe Source Link: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/laccha-onion-lachha-pyaaz/