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Cooking adventures in a small, closet sized, kitchen. - I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.

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Pickled Red Onions

[heart_this] · May 23, 2019 · 21 Comments

Pickled Red Onions

Quick and easy homemade pickled red onions! Perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or all by themselves!

Pickled red onions are such an amazing condiment (or side dish) and they are so easy to make at home! You can pickle many different fresh vegetables and/or fruit in a vinegar solution which helps to preserve them and extend their life. Onions can be pretty pungent but if you let them sit in vinegar for a while they mellow out really nicely making pickled onions particularly good. In addition to the pungency of the onion and the tang of the vinegar the pickling solution contains some sugar for sweetness and salt for saltiness giving then a complex flavour profile. If you like a bit of heat you can also add red pepper flakes to make them spicy! I almost always have some of these quick pickled red onions in my fridge!

Pickled Red Onions
Pickled Red Onions
Slice them any way you like!

Pickled Red Onions
Pickled Red Onions

Pickled Red Onions
Pickled Red Onions

Pickled Red Onions

Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 8

Quick and easy homemade pickled red onions! Perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or all by themselves!

ingredients
  • 1/2 cup vinegar (such as apple cider, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, etc.)
  • 1 cup water, warm
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey, agave, etc.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large red onion, peeled, sliced and divided
directions
  1. Mix the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
  2. Place the onions in a jar (or other container) and pour the vinegar mixture over and seal/cover. (The onions should be covered in liquid.)
  3. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Option: Add red pepper flakes for spicy pickled red onions!
Option: Add extra spiced like whole black peppercorns, and/or cumin, bay leaves, garlic, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, cloves, etc.
Nutrition Facts: Calories 9, Fat 0 (Saturated 0, Trans 0), Cholesterol 0, Sodium 38mg, Carbs 2g (Fiber 0.3g, Sugars 1g), Protein 0.1g

Nutrition by: Nutritional facts powered by Edamam
Use in:
Pineapple Dak Bulgogi Sandwich (Korean Spicy Pineapple BBQ Chicken Sandwich)
Butter Chicken Burritos
Blackened Catfish Tacos
Carnitas Tacos
Carnitas Eggs Benedict
Moroccan Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Preserved Lemon Tapenade and Harissa Mayo
Moroccan Chicken Manchego Melt
Chicken Shawarma Warps
Chicken Shawarma Salad
Greek Style Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwich

Similar Recipes:
Mexican Pickled Red Onions
Pickled Green Tomatoes
Vietnamese Pickled Carrots and Daikon Radish
Candied Jalapenos
Pickled Jalapenos
Sumac Onions

Condiment, Food, Gluten-free, Pickle, Recipe, Vegetable, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    April 24, 2010 at 12:46 am

    Oh yum! Try same with turnips.

    Reply
  2. Pam says

    April 24, 2010 at 1:35 am

    I've been looking for just this recipe!

    Reply
  3. katiez says

    April 24, 2010 at 9:23 am

    What a great idea! I make pickled beets in a similar way, but this will be great with barbevue season starting.

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    April 24, 2010 at 10:14 am

    I made a pickled red onion recipe not so look ago that used coriander, mustard, seeds, and a whole lot of spices. You might want to give it a try if you liked these!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    April 24, 2010 at 8:39 pm

    Looks wonderful! I can taste them noew 😉

    Reply
  6. Catering Equipment says

    April 25, 2010 at 1:05 am

    Onion is so versatile and a great condiment with lots of other food. Your onion pickle looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for the great receipe.

    Reply
  7. Cynthia says

    April 25, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    Ummmm, pickled onions, they taste good on everything!

    Reply
  8. Cara says

    April 26, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    oooh I really need to try this. One of the best salads I had in a restaurant recently had spinach, beets, goat cheese, candied nuts, chickpeas, tomatoes, asparagus, and pickled onions – the onions totally made it!

    Reply
  9. home based businesses says

    April 27, 2010 at 10:57 am

    I like eating raw onions. I don't know why I just like it.

    Reply
  10. mary says

    April 27, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    These look delicious. They are definitely on my list to pickle.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    May 2, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    Bookmarked! I love making a quick red onion pickle called salsa criolla that is used in a lot of Latin American cooking. I often serve it with tostones, pork tacos, and yuca frita. I've never thought of pickling the onions longer, though, and possibly storing them in the fridge to use for a bit. Lovely!

    Reply
  12. Catering Equipment says

    June 19, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    Interesting blog. It would be great if you can provide more details about it. Thanks you

    Reply
  13. Sandra says

    October 23, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    I just made these today. Mine aren't nearly as bright of red, but you can see my post here http://homeschoolingjasmine.blogspot.com/2011/10/pickled-red-onions.html

    Reply
  14. Sandra says

    October 25, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    I did try them straight from the jar, but I do think they will be really good on a sandwich. I bookmarked a ton of your recipes to try.

    Reply
  15. SundayAtTheGiacometti's says

    April 2, 2012 at 3:19 am

    Hi Kevin,
    I had some red onions marinated in vinegar in a Cuban restaurant while in Miami.. They were fabulous. Have you ever had them just with red vinegar or sherry vinegar? Why do I have to add water? Is there a reason other then a stronger taste? thanks. Barbara, Sunday at the Giacomettis

    Reply
  16. Gail says

    May 23, 2019 at 5:07 pm

    I know you have lots of vinegars on the list—does apple cider vinegar work, too? I’m not an experienced canner!

    Reply
    • kevin says

      May 24, 2019 at 8:33 am

      Yes it does! Enjoy!

      Reply
  17. Judy says

    May 23, 2019 at 5:18 pm

    Sounds delicious. How much garlic for it to make a difference? When you mention red and white wines do you mean proper wines of vinegar wines? How long does it take till they’re ready.
    Thanks Kevin.

    Regards Judy

    Reply
    • kevin says

      May 24, 2019 at 8:42 am

      I would add 1-2 cloves of smashed, sliced or chopped garlic. White wine vinegar or red wine vinegar work. Let them sit for at least 30 minutes and you can store them in the fridge for a few weeks. Enjoy!

      Reply
  18. Kimberly Payton says

    July 9, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    Can i make these but “can” them with boiling water (as i do my tomatoes) so they will last long time on the shelf?

    Reply
  19. Teresa Garcia says

    September 13, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    I love this recipe. I have been making the pickled red onions for many years!
    I add about 1:2 T more sugar. I also add a bay leaf, cumin, Penzey’s roasted garlic, & a big dash of red pepper flakes! Yum!

    Reply

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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