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Sauteed onions and jalapenos are also known as Chiles torreados. This is a simple side dish recipe that goes great with homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, and chamoyadas.

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🛒Ingredients
All you need is a hot skillet and a few simple ingredients to make this chiles toreados recipe.
- large fresh jalapeños
- large white onion
- extra-virgin olive oil
- soy sauce
- fresh lime juice
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the sliced onions and jalapeño peppers to the skillet and let them cook on one side until blistered ans slightly charred. Don't touch the peppers and onions for at least 3 minutes.
Once the onions are caramelized and the jalapeños are charred on the first side, flip them over and let them cook for 3 minutes more on the second side.
Add the soy sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and squeeze fresh lime juice all over the peppers and onions.
Serve the sauteed peppers and onion sauté as a side dish, on top of tacos, or alongside grilled meats.
👩🏾🍳Substitutions
If you know how to make the recipe fit a certain diet, let the reader know here. Don't fake it - only provide guidance on topics you have actual experience with.
- Jalapeno peppers- use poblanos for a milder version of this dish. You can also add a few red bell peppers for sweetness and color.
- Soy sauce - use maggi sauce or leave out completely and just finish with lime juice. Worcestershire sauce can also be used instead of soy sauce in this recipe.
- White onions- use yellow onions instead. even red onions will work in this dish.
📝What to serve with these spicy peppers
These caramelized onions and jalapenos go well with grilled meats and lots of your favorite meals and Mexican dishes.Try serving them with:
📝Variations
Jalapeno Burger- the next time you make smash burgers, top the burger patties with the onions and peppers and a slice of cheese
Quesadilla- take a plain cheese quesadilla up a notch by adding the cooked peppers and onions. Cook the quesadilla until it is golden brown on both sides.
🍳Equipment
I used a large heavy skillet with a non-stick coating for this recipe. Another great choice would be a cast-iron skillet because it is great at retaining heat.
🥡Storage
Store the leftover jalapenos in an artight container in the fridge after they have cooled off completely.
✅Top tip
For even cooking, be sure to preheat the skillet and make sure to put the vegetables in a hot pan. Add the onions an jalapenos immediately after adding the vegetable oil or olive oil to the pan.
🎥Video
📖Printable Recipe Card
Sauteed onions and Jalapenos
Equipment
- 1 large skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 each large white onions sliced into 8 wedges
- 6-8 each jalapeño peppers sliced (seeds and membranes removed for less heat)
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the sliced onions and jalapeño peppers to the skillet and let them cook on one side until blistered and slightly charred. Don't touch the peppers and onions for at least 3 minutes.2 each large white onions, 6-8 each jalapeño peppers
- Once the onions are caramelized and the jalapeños are charred on the first side, flip them over and let them cook for 3 minutes more on the second side.
- Add the soy sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and squeeze fresh lime juice all over the peppers and onions.2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
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