How to make Pickled Red Onions– a quick and easy recipe that can be made in 15 minutes flat! Give your favorite meals a huge burst of flavor, this recipe includes a Mexican version, Indian version and a Nordic version! Keeps up to one month in the fridge. Watch 30-second video!
Give all your favorite foods like tacos, bowls, burritos, wraps, or grilled meats a huge burst of flavor in an instant with pickled red onions!!! So easy, but the difference they can make to an ordinary meal, can be mind-blowing!
This recipe takes only 15 minutes, and you probably already have everything you need on hand…. so no excuses! Make a batch today of pickled onions and store them in the fridge for up to a month – but trust me, I doubt this small batch of deliciousness will even make it that long…. you’ll find a hundred uses for them!
Pickled Red Onions! | 35-sec video
How to make Pickled Red Onions?
- Simply simmer thinly sliced red onions in a mixture of vinegar (white, apple cider, red wine vinegar), water, salt, sugar (or honey or sugar alternative) along with any whole spices you like for 2-3 minutes on the stove.
- Cool, store in a jar and refrigerate!
- That is it!
Tips: Experiment with adding whole spices!
- Try whole coriander, peppercorns, cumin seeds, fennel seed, juniper berries, allspice, caraway, celery or even star anise!
- Mexican version of pickled onions: add sliced japeno and whole cumin and coriander seeds plus Mexican oregano to the pickling liquid. Add them to your Mexican Feast .
- Nordic version of pickled red onions: add fresh dill, caraway and peppercorns.
- Indian version of pickled onions: fennel seeds, coriander and either fenugreek or cilantro!
Of course….you don’t have to add them… but it’s fun and adds complexity!
Quick Pickled Onions will give your favorite foods a burst of flavor! They pair really well with many Mexican Recipes and I love them on Indian food – but they really go with almost everything.
A small batch recipe that is fast and easy and will elevate many dishes you already make.
What to use Pickled onions on?
Indian Burritos called Frankies!!!
Grilled Steak Tacos with Chimichurri
Quick Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw
PrintPickled Red Onions
A simple tasty recipe for Pickled Red Onions, that can be made in 15 minutes flat! Give your favorite foods like tacos, bowls, burritos, wraps, or grilled meats a huge burst of flavor in an instant. Store in the fridge for up to two months! This small-batch recipe is fast and easy and will elevate many dishes you already make.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups
- Category: condiments
- Method: pickled
- Cuisine: Northwest
Ingredients
- ½ a red onion, very thinly sliced
- ½ cup white vinegar, or use apple cider or red wine vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ –2 tablespoons sugar (or honey or other substitute)
- 1–2 teaspoons whole spices (optional- one or any combination of peppercorns, fennel seed, cumin, coriander, peppercorns, caraway, star anise, juniper, allspice.)
- optional additions:
- 1–2 garlic cloves, cut in half
- a couple bay leaves
- a teaspoon dried or fresh oregano ( if using on Mexican food)
Instructions
- Thinly slice ½ a red onion. (Feel free to double the batch)
- Place the onion along with the vinegar, water, salt, sugar and whole spices and any optional additions in a small pot on the stove and bring to a simmer. Simmer 1 minute, stirring.
- Remove from the stove and let cool.
- Place onions and liquid in a clean jar and store in the fridge.
- Add fresh herbs if you like.
- This will last 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
Notes
- For a Mexican version of pickled onions, add sliced jalapeno and whole cumin and coriander seeds plus Mexican oregano to the pickling liquid.
- For a Nordic version of pickled red onions, add fresh dill, caraway and peppercorns.
- For an Indian version of pickled onions add fennel seeds, coriander and either fenugreek or cilantro!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 8
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 116.7 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.8 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: pickled red onions, pickled onions, pickled onion, pickling onions, how to pickle onions, best pickled onion recipe,
Thank you!
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Yum! Made the Indian version to go with your Bombay Burrito recipe. So so so delicious!
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Awesome- I love that version!
Hi Silvia, I’ve just made a post about this recipe on Insta with a photo etc! SO I have made your Pickled Red Onions – in 6 different types of vinegars this morning (w/ Carraway, Cummin, Pepper & Coriander seeds; plus a smidgen of garlic)! Anyway the Insta photo says it all but thanks for a wonderful morning in the kitchen… I cannot wait to taste the results in about a week at least, the mix of the full amounts of salt & sugar you suggest in the recipe were super throughout each type of vinegar! Also in the tasting of the fresh ‘dregs’ of each blend was sublime. Looking forward to the Apple Cider version – it was very smooth! Cheers…
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Great to hear Michael! Will look for the post!
Another easy recipe with BIG flavor!! Love these on wraps of all kinds….,bowls…..tacos.,,, salads….
Thanks!
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Glad you enjoyed them!
Excellent and exceptional recipes great god bless yo
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Thanks Davider!