Note: Red onions in the Mediterranean countries are smaller in size and milder in flavor than those readily available here in the U.S. There is a simple step that you can take to tame the pungent and sharp flavor of the onions: slice them thinly and then submerge them for 10 minutes in a bowl of cold water, stirring them a few times. Then, drain them and add them to your salad. The sulfur compounds of the onions dissipate in the water and their taste will become much mellower. For added flavor, you can also soak the onions in lemon juice!