Swiss onion salad

Description

If you cannot be in Bern for the fourth Monday in November, celebrate the Onion Market Day at home with dishes such as this onion salad.

Summary

Yield
Servings
SourceSwiss cuisine
Prep time
30 minutes
Cooking time
Total time
30 minutes

Ingredients

4  
yellow onions (about 1 lb, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick)
1 t
salt
1⁄2 t
pepper
4  
bacon rashers (chopped)
1 T
flour (whole wheat)
2 t
cider vinegar
1 pn
sugar
2 T
chives (fresh chives, finely chopped)

Instructions

  1. Place onion slices in a bowl, sprinkle onion with salt and pepper. Toss, separating onion slices into rings.
  2. Cook onion rings and bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until bacon is crisp and onions golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Sir constantly.
  3. Sprinkle the onion-bacon mixture with flour and stir gently to coat the food, when the flour is absorbed, about 2-4 minutes, add vinegar and sugar. Cook 2-4 more minutes, stirring constantly, and the sauce will thicken. Remove from heat and keep warm.
  4. Garnish with finely chopped chives before serving.

Notes

Ingredients, metric  
4   yellow onions, about 500 g, peeled and sliced 1/2 cm thick  
1 tsp    salt  
1/2 tsp    pepper  
4   bacon slices, chopped  
25 g     whole wheat flour  
30 ml   cider vinegar  
1 dash    sugar  
2 Tbs    freshly chopped chives  

Serving size: 1 serving is 1/4 of the original recipe.

Percent daily values based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.
Amount Per Serving      
Calories   190.72  
Calories From Fat (61%)   116.53  
    % Daily Value
Total Fat 12.91g   20%  
Saturated Fat 4.29g   21%  
Cholesterol 19.28mg   6%  
Sodium 821.47mg   34%  
Potassium 252.46mg   7%  
Carbohydrates 14.78g   5%  
Dietary Fiber 1.87g   7%  
Sugar 5.33g      
Sugar Alcohols 0.00g      
Net Carbohydrates 12.91g      
Protein 4.69g   9%  

Swiss onions

Visitors can buy confetti on the spot and join in, only be aware the locals had weeks to stock ammunition.

As legend has it, the first zibele-märit was held in the 15th century for the farmers of nearby Fribourg who had helped to clear the town after a fire and brought onions for the starving Bernese population.

The truth is onion market day was probably established later but was linked to the much older Martinmas Fair – a several day long farmers market from medieval times. The onion market became the established first day of this event in the 19th century, and it is the only market day remaining today from the Martinmas Fair.

On market day, the old town in Bern is packed with stalls selling onions and garlic, allartistically plaited. Onion cakes, onion soup, and cheese are traditional dishes on that day. Of course, other vegetables and pottery are also for sale, and there is a fair and a confetti battle for young people.