These Quick Pickled Red Onions are made with just 5 ingredients and in just 5 minutes! They're a simple and tasty way to elevate any dish, from burgers, tacos, nachos, avocado toast, salads and more.
Follow my step-by-step instructions to learn how to make these delicious No Cook pickled onions in a jiffy.
About my homemade Quick picked red onions recipe
As always my recipes are super easy and takes only 5 minutes to make! I know you will also love my pickled jalapenos recipe too.
Once you mix everything together, the onions rest in the jar for an hour or more, soaking up all the delicious flavours. I recommend giving them at least an hour before serving to get the best taste. And the good news is that you can store them in mason jars or any airtight container in the fridge for up to a month!
I love serving these pickled onions with my vegan chickpea tikka masala and homemade naan - they make such a terrific combo! But, they're also amazing on my vegan Buddha bowls. Trust me, you'll love them!
Ingredients for pickling Red Onion
If you're looking for an easy and flavourful way to add some zing to your dishes, pickled red onions are a great option. And the best part is, all the ingredients needed are likely already in your pantry!
- Onions: I prefer Red onions, but you can also use white onions or a combination of both.
- Vinegar:Apple cider vinegar adds a subtle sweetness. Alternatively you can also use white vinegar, white wine vinegar or distilled vinegar. The acidity helps to preserve the onions.
- Salt: Essential in pickling as it draws out moisture and intensifies flavor.
- Maple syrup, Honey or sugar: Either of them works as a sweetener in the recipe and balances the acidity. Adjust the amount based on preference. I prefer to use Maple syrup over honey, as its naturally vegan and always available in my fridge.
- Hot water: Preferred over warm water to speed up the pickling process and help dissolve the salt and sugar. Just use boiling hot water from the kettle.
Variations
Feel free to add garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, black pepper corn, mustard seeds or fresh herbs like dill, thyme or organo to the brine for added flavours.
How to thinly sliced red onions?
To thinly slice red onions for pickling, a mandolin slicer is highly recommended. Set the slicer to 1/16th inch thickness and slice the onions uniformly. If you don't have a mandolin slicer, use a sharp knife and steady hand. Investing in a mandolin slicer can save time and energy in the kitchen.
How to make Quick Pickled red onions?
- Prepare the Brine/Pickling Mixture: Mix apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar in a small bowl. Pour hot water and stir until combined.
- Stuff Onion in Jar: Put the sliced red onions crosswise into a Mason Jar.
- Pour the Brine/Pickling Mixture: Pour the prepared brine into the mason jar, ensuring that the onions are completely submerged.
- Rest the Pickled Onions: Let the pickled onions sit for at least one hour or more to allow the flavours to deepen.
- Serve: Your pink pickled onions are now ready to be served.
Serving Suggestions
Quick pickled red onions are a versatile and delicious condiment that pairs well with a variety of dishes. Some serving suggestions for using pickled onions:
- Top off your burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches with a generous helping of pickled onions for an extra zing of flavour.
- Add a few slices of pickled onions to your tacos, quesadillas, buddha bowl and burritos to give them an extra crunch and tangy taste.
- Serve pickled onions alongside your favourite Indian meal - Saag Chana, Tarka dal and roti.
With its tangy and crisp taste, quick pickled onions are an easy and versatile condiment that can elevate any dish.
Storing Quick Pickled Red Onions
Store the leftover pickled red onions in the mason jar, sealed tightly, in the fridge for up to a month. The pickled onions will taste tangy, crisp, and mildly sweet-tart, making them a perfect addition to any dish.
Recipe FAQ's
You should use apple cider vinegar for this recipe, as it adds a subtle sweetness to the recipe and is great for pickling any vegetable. It also darkens the vegetables and intensifies the flavours in the brine.
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar or distilled vinegar instead.
Boiling Hot water from the kettle is absolutely essential for this quick recipe for Pickled Onions because it's a no-cook recipe, and hot water plays an essential role in the recipe.
Certainly! You can pickle white onions, shallots, red onions, or even a combination of onions. However, red onions lend that vibrant "pink pickled onion" color!
The pickling mixture is made with apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar, and water, and it is known as brine.
If you want to create a special occasion pickled onions, you can add bay leaf, peppercorn, or chilli to the jar to add a decorative touch and allow the flavours to mature.
How to make Quick Pickled Red Onions recipe?
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion sliced thin
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup hot water from the kettle
Instructions
- Start by thinly slicing a red onion. A mandolin slicer set to 1/16th thickness works well for this.1 medium red onion
- Next, add the sliced onions crosswise to a sterilised jar.1 medium red onion
- In a small bowl, combine vinegar, salt, maple syrup, and boiling hot water.½ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup hot water
- Mix the pickling mixture well and pour it over the onions in the jar.
- Allow the onions to soak in the pickling mixture for at least an hour, or longer if desired.
- Once the onions have reached room temperature, transfer the jar to the refrigerator to store for up to a month.
Kushigalu says
Pickled onions are my favorite. Love to use them on salads. Your method looks perfect
Jessica Formicola says
I can't wait to make a batch of these! I love putting them on burgers and hot dogs!
Erika says
I love how simple these are to make! Plus, they are perfect for my onion and tomato salad I like to make!
Julia says
I can't wait to try this recipe! I have't tried pickling onions myself, but this recipe seems pretty easy!