Description
These Pickled Red Onions have become a kitchen staple. Their sweet, sharp flavor brightens salads, stir fries, sandwiches, sautées, and the list goes on! 5 minutes of prep and a little patience and you have a simple way to spice up everyday recipes.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients for the basic quick pickle brine:
- 1 raw red onion
- 1 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 Tablespoon peppercorns
- pinch of Kosher salt
Variations
1.For Dill Pickled Onions add:
- 1 peeled garlic clove
- 1 sprig of fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon of mustard seed
2. For Asian Style Pickled Onions add:
- 2 cloves fresh garlic;
- 1 inch peeled fresh ginger root;
- 1 scallion (green onion) trimmed to fit in jar
- 1 chili pepper of your choice (or ½ teaspoon dried red chili flakes)
Instructions
Directions for quick pickled red onions:
- Combine the water and vinegar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
- Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Remove from heat and cool.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the onions thinly and evenly. Use a mandoline if you have one and want to get them super thin and uniform.
- Place sliced onions in clean mason jar, leaving 1 inch at the top.
- Add peppercorns to the jars and pour the vinegar mixture into the jars.
- Add desired aromatics like ginger, garlic, dill, crushed red pepper flakes, etc.
- Place waxed paper or plastic wrap over top of jar and screw on the lid. The plastic wrap will keep the top from discoloring from the vinegar.
- Let the onions marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to two weeks.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Note- When dipping in to serve the pickled red onions, use a clean spoon to retrieve onions from jar to avoid cross contamination.
Some recipes call for Apple Cider Vinegar, and while you can use this in a pinch, I think it imparts too much sweetness to the onions and the sweetness eclipses their bright flavor. Other recipes call for rice vinegar, which works well for some dishes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Marinating Time: 1 hour
