What Is Encurtido And What Does It Taste Like?
Encurtido originates from Latin America and is a melange of hardy, spicy vegetables that can be enjoyed all year long. According to Google Translate, the term means "pickled" in Spanish — but these irresistible recipes taste far from simple. As the name suggests, preparing encurtido involves lots of vinegar and pickling salt. In addition to producing a delicious and very distinct flavor, pickling allows food to be preserved for long periods of time, making it ideal for those who want to eat well, but don't always find fresh produce available (via Poor Girl Eats Well).
According to an article on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition, some form of pickling dates back to approximately 2030 B.C. and that the process is still utilized all over the world in various capacities. Hitchhiker's Guide states that pickling is most commonly achieved by bathing ingredients in vinegar, thereby drastically increasing the acid level of food — a process that hinders the development of dangerous bacteria. Benefits of eating zesty pickled items such as encurtido may include happiness, lowered cholesterol, and better digestive health.
Varieties of encurtido
Encurtido recipes vary slightly based on region, but seem to reliably contain a mixture of flavorful local vegetables with strong textures that hold up well in liquid for a long time. Honduran encurtido has a vibrant, jewel-toned appearance resulting from crimson beets, which are combined with carrots, cauliflower, onions, and jalapeños to create a fresh and zesty side dish that will pretty up your table and make your mouth water (via Countrysides Flavors). High vinegar content gives the vegetables a distinctly pungent, sour flavor, and this garnish also possesses a spicy kick from the peppers.
Poor Girl Eats Well gives credit to Colombia for her milder encurtido recipe, which features broccoli, brussel sprouts, green beans, carrots, cauliflower and onion. The website suggests seasoning with smoky cumin in lieu of oregano, which is used in the version from Honduras. She also recommends eating the vegetable medley over some brown rice for a delicious dinner.
How is encurtido made and how is it used?
Blogger, Carlos Melgar, says that encurtido is a staple of Honduran cooking, and that it is both enjoyed by itself and used at every meal (via Inns' Bruck). He's also quick to point out that encurtido tastes differently depending on who's making it and that the recipe is open to interpretation based on individual preference. Melgar suggests measuring "with your heart" for optimal results. Countrysides Flavors also mentions the importance of using fresh veggies because of their quality, and agrees that encurtido goes with absolutely everything.
However, Poor Girl Eats Well is quite happy with produce from the frozen food section, citing that frozen is often more convenient to purchase. Regardless of whether you choose fresh or frozen, the veggies are cooked slightly while submerged in pickling brine with various spices, then allowed to cool to room temperature. Once the encurtido is cooled, it can be stored in sterile, sealed glass containers and relished for months to come.