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Quick Pickled Red Onions are the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and crunchy. Add them on literally anything and make them in minutes with four simple ingredients.
Months ago I decided to try quick pickling red onions. I found a popular recipe and gave it a try, but it wasn’t my favorite. Then while looking in my mother’s refrigerator I saw that she had a jar of homemade sweet and sour pickled, sweet relish, and red onions.
Of course, I had to give her version of pickled red onions a try and they were the perfect combination of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor that I had been looking for. I quickly asked her for the recipe and was surprised at how simple it is to make. Since then, they have become a staple in my refrigerator. They are so easy to make and I use them to complement anything for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I especially love using them in recipes that require red onion instead of sliced raw onion. Talk about flavor explosion! You have to give this recipe a try.
Which vinegar is best for pickling?
For this recipe, you will use white wine vinegar. However, you may substitute the white wine vinegar for rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar.
What ingredients for easy pickled red onions?
- Red onion
- White wine vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt
What other flavorings can be added?
In addition to the above ingredients, you can also add jalapeno pepper slices, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, a sliced clove of garlic, and a teaspoon of black peppercorns. You may also use yellow onion for this recipe instead of red onion. Get creative with this recipe and add your favorite flavor combinations that you enjoy. This recipe is truly hard to mess up.
How to make pickled red onions:
Using a knife, remove the top and bottom of the onion and peel any excess off to reveal the skin of the onion. Thinly slice the red onion into round strips. If you have a mandoline, you can use it instead.
Place the red onion slices in a medium-sized wide-mouth jar with a lid.
In a small glass pitcher, stir together the white wine vinegar, sugar, and salt until combined. The mixture will be cloudy and the sugar will dissolve. It will still be grainy from the coarse salt.
Pour the vinegar mixture over the red onions in the jar. Stir together and the red onion will begin to reduce in size and be able to fully submerge in the vinegar mixture.
Place the lid on the jar and allow it to sit undisturbed for at least 30 minutes at room temperature. Give them a stir and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How long before you can eat pickled onions?
The pickled red onions in this recipe are ready to use and eat 30 minutes after they have been prepared. They will last in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. The longer these pickled onions sit the better they get. The onions will become softer and absorb more of the vinegar marinade.
Quick Pickled Red Onions
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
Instructions
- Using a knife, remove the top and bottom of the onion and peel any excess off to reveal the skin of the onion.
- Thinly slice the red onion into round strips. If you have a mandoline, you can use it instead. Place the red onion slices in a medium-sized wide-mouth jar with a lid.
- In a small glass pitcher, stir together the white wine vinegar, sugar, and salt until combined. The mixture will be cloudy and the sugar will dissolve. It will still be grainy from the coarse salt.
- Pour the vinegar mixture over the red onions in the jar. Stir together and the red onion will begin to reduce in size and be able to fully submerge in the vinegar mixture.
- Place the lid on the jar and allow it to sit undisturbed for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Give them a stir and store covered in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Want recipes to use these easy pickled onions? Try these:
Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas for these Quick Pickled Red Onions? Please share them in the comments below!
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