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Quick Pickled Red Onions

June 10, 2022 by hipfoodiemom 29 Comments

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Quick Pickled Red Onions! So delicious and so very easy to pickle! This recipe works for any vegetable you want to pickle. These are amazing in tacos, over nachos, in sandwiches or wraps, on eggs and really, with anything! Hope you enjoy! 

I absolutely love condiments. I love adding things on top of my food to enhance, give more flavor, texture, crunch, you name it. These pickled red onions are the bomb. So good!

Enjoy these on top of tacos, over nachos, in a sandwich or wrap, with eggs, on a cheese and charcuterie board, or really right out of the jar.

Quick Pickled Red Onions

The great thing about pickling: you can add whatever you like and you can flavor them how you like! Add some heat, add some garlic, add some fresh herbs, add peppercorns, it’s up to you! 

For the most part, you can pickle just about any vegetable and you simply need equal parts water and vinegar. Any basic vinegar will work: white vinegar, apple cider, white wine, and rice vinegar all work well. 

For more flavor, I love adding: Fresh herbs: dill, thyme, oregano, and rosemary hold up well. Dried herbs: thyme, dill, rosemary, oregano, or majoram. Garlic cloves: smashed for mild garlic flavor, or sliced for stronger garlic flavor. Fresh ginger: peeled and thinly sliced. Whole spices: mustard seed, coriander, peppercorns, juniper berries, or red pepper flakes. Ground spices: turmeric or smoked paprika are great for both color and flavor. Resource: The Kitchn

Quick Pickled Red Onions! So delicious and so very easy to pickle! This recipe works for any vegetable you want to pickle.
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5 from 4 votes

Quick Pickled Red Onions

This recipe makes a small batch, or one jar. If wanting to make more like 2 jars, simply double the recipe. Also, if using larger red onions, you will need more brine. I love my pickled red onions a little on the sweeter side so I add more sugar. Feel free to add less.
Garlic lovers, you can also add in a fresh clove of garlic along with the cinnamon stick, juniper berries and fresh herbs. Smashed for mild garlic flavor, or sliced for stronger garlic flavor.
General rule for quick pickled vegetables: 1 lb. prepped/cut vegetables for every 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water + salt. If you need more pickling brine, simply double or triple the recipe. ****See note below regarding the sugar.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: quick pickled red onions, red onions
Servings: 4
Author: hipfoodiemom

Equipment

  • large mason jar with well fitting lid or an old pickle jar with lid

Ingredients

  • 1 to 2 small red onions peeled and sliced thin crosswise*
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary or thyme
  • 1 teaspoon juniper berries or black peppercorns** depending on your desired flavor combination
  • 1 heaping teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 cup white vinegar***
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar*****

Instructions

  • Place prepped and cut onions, fresh herbs, whole spices (I used juniper berries) and your cinnamon stick directly into your mason jar. In a pot, bring the vinegar, water, salt and sugar to a light boil, whisking until all of the sugar is dissolved. Ladle or pour the hot liquid over the onions into the mason jars.
  • Immediately cover with lid, (or let sit for about 25 to 30 minutes and then seal and close) seal closed and let sit on your counter top until the brine liquid has cooled, for about 25 to 30 minutes and then place into the refrigerator overnight, or for at least 1 hour.
    I think they are best if left in the fridge overnight. The pickled red onions are best up to 2 weeks**** in the refrigerator in the covered and sealed mason jar. Enjoy!

Notes

*generally, you want thin slices but you can really chop (or use a mandoline slicer for best results!) or slice these up however you want. Thin "ring" slices work well for pickled red onions. 
**Can't find juniper berries? Whole black peppercorns, bay leaves, fresh rosemary, or whole allspice berries are also all great substitutes. The juniper berries add a slight piney flavor with a touch of fruitiness and pepperiness. 
***Any basic vinegar will work: white vinegar, apple cider, white wine, and rice vinegar 
****Truth be told, I've let them sit in the fridge for up to 3 weeks and they are still delicious. They will lose some of the vibrant color but they are still safe to eat, edible and tasty. 
*****A lot of you ask about the sugar added. I like my pickled red onions on the sweeter side. You can reduce to 1 tablespoon of sugar, you can omit completely or you can sub in with stevia. 
For more flavor, I love adding: Fresh herbs: dill, thyme, oregano, and rosemary hold up well. Dried herbs: thyme, dill, rosemary, oregano, or majoram. Garlic cloves: smashed for mild garlic flavor, or sliced for stronger garlic flavor. Fresh ginger: peeled and thinly sliced. Whole spices: mustard seed, coriander, peppercorns, juniper berries, or red pepper flakes. Ground spices: turmeric or smoked paprika are great for both color and flavor. A cinnamon stick is my absolute fave and I will also add star anise!

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Popular, Quick Meals, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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Meet Alice

Alice Choi from Hip Foodie MomHello! My name is Alice. Here, at Hip Foodie Mom, you will find fresh food recipes using local, seasonal ingredients. From meat dishes to vegetarian to Asian inspired dishes, you are sure to find something you like. Thank you for stopping by!

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