These Quick Pickled Red Onions are so quick and easy to make and they are so versatile. Add them to sandwiches, burgers, salads or tacos for an easy way to add lots of colour and flavour. They are a tangy addition to any dish!
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Pickled red onions are a delicious and versatile condiment that can add a pop of flavour and colour to any dish. I first had them on tacos and was instantly hooked by their tangy and slightly sweet taste. We now love these red pickled onions in a variety of dishes, from salads to sandwiches to grilled meats.
These pickled onions are so easy to make at home. All you need is some red onions, water, vinegar, sugar, and salt, and you can have a jar of pickled onions that only take 15 minutes to marinate in the fridge.
They keep well in the fridge, so you can always have them on hand to add to your favourite dishes.
Looking for more condiment recipes? Why not try our quick Pickled Cucumbers, spicy Harissa Paste, tangy Mango Chutney, easy Pickled Radishes or our healthy BBQ Sauce?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Red onion - You can pickle any onions using this recipe, but red gives the best flavour. We like using shallots too.
- Vinegar - We used white vinegar, which will ensure the brightest clearest colour, as well as the longest shelf life in the fridge. White vinegar is more concentrated than apple cider or red wine vinegar, but they will work.
- Water - This is mixed with the the vinegar.
- Sugar - We used white cane sugar, which gives the clearest colour. You could use honey or maple syrup, but this would change the colour.
- Salt - Generously season.
How to Make Pickled Red Onions - Step by Step
- Step 1: Place the vinegar, water, salt and sugar in a small saucepan on the hob and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30-60 seconds, stirring. Turn off the heat and let this cool completely.
- Step 2: Put the onions in a jar and pour over the liquid. Put in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
What are Pickled Red Onions?
Pickled red onions are a popular condiment that can add a tangy, sweet, and slightly sour flavour to any dish, like sandwiches and tacos. They are made by soaking thinly sliced red onions in vinegar, water, sugar, and salt.
You can add other spices and flavourings like garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. You then leave them in the fridge for just 15 minutes to soften, although you can leave them for longer.
Pickling is a process of preserving food by immersing it in a solution of vinegar or another acidic liquid. The acid in the vinegar helps to break down the cell walls of the onions, which allows them to absorb the flavours of the other ingredients in the pickling solution. This process also helps to preserve the onions, so they can be stored for longer periods of time.
Serving Suggestions
Pickled red onions are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. They are a popular topping for tacos, sandwiches, and burgers, and can also be added to salads, soups, and stews. Their bright colour and tangy taste can add a pop of colour and flavour to any dish. Here are some of our favourite recipes to add them to:
- Air Fryer Burgers
- Fish Tacos
- Loaded Tuna Sandwich
- Baked Chicken Burgers
- Indian Burger
- Crispy Prawn Tacos
- The BEST Fish Finger Sandwiches
- Steak Salad
We love them on our Vegetarian Charcuterie Board too and, of course our Picky Plates.
Storage
Store: The best thing about these is that they store well. If they are kept in an air tight jar, then they will keep for up to 3 weeks, but we usually use them up before that.
Extra Tips
- We haven't added anything extra into ours in terms of flavour, but you could add peppercorns, pickles jalapeños, cumin seeds, fennel seeds garlic cloves or a bay leaf.
- You can either use a really sharp knife, or a mandolin to slice the red onions. Try to get them as thin as possible.
- These can be ready in as little as 15 minutes, but for the best pickled red onions, let them marinate for 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as long as you have used white vinegar and make sure there is no cross contamination, these are gluten free.
More Onion Recipes
If you've tried this pink pickled onion recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Quick Pickled Red Onions
Ingredients
- 3 Red onion - finely sliced
- 500 ml of Water
- 250 ml of Vinegar - white
- 3 tablespoon of Sugar
- 1 teaspoon of Sea salt
Instructions
- Place the vinegar, water, salt and sugar in a small saucepan on the hob and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30-60 seconds, stirring. Turn off the heat and let this cool completely.
- Put the onions in a jar and pour over the liquid. Put in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- We haven't added anything extra into ours in terms of flavour, but you could add peppercorns, pickles jalapeños, cumin seeds, fennel seeds garlic cloves or a bay leaf.
- You can either use a really sharp knife, or a mandolin to slice the red onions. Try to get them as thin as possible.
- These can be ready in as little as 15 minutes, but for the best pickled red onions, let them marinate for 24 hours.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Liz Curmi says
Would be trying these for sure! Can I ask how long they last in the fridge for please?
Dannii Martin says
There is a whole section on storage in the post. They will last 3 weeks in the fridge.
Ann says
Made the pickled red onion and had some vinegar left so I did some red cabbage too. They are absolutely lovely and very quick to make. I usually have both raw in my salads so these will be lovely x
Stu R says
Made this with some pieces of Scotch Bonnet added. Brilliantly spicy.
Ieva says
Yummy! We've just had a quick weekday bbq in the garden as the weather is so beautiful. Had these pickled onions with lamb and chicken skewers and they were amazing! It's amazing how they gain so much beautiful tangy flavour in such a short amount of time!
Elizabeth says
I think this might be my new favorite sandwich and salad topper! I love red onions, but I've never tried pickling them before. Tangy and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Andrea says
These easy pickled red onions are a perfect summertime condiment.
Hayley Dhanecha says
I love this onions, great with indian food and burgers and tacos!
gunjan says
pickled onions are my favorite and I made a big batch of these. Totally perfect and so delicious.
dina and bruce miller says
Lovely. Served on burgers last night!
Jen Vinuya says
I love this!! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Meg says
After you've eaten the pickled onions, do you throw away the pickling juice and start again with a new batch? Or can you use the pickling juice for something?
Katherine says
I love quick pickled onions. Such a tasty way to jazz up a meal!
Ali says
These pickled red onions are great to always have on hand to add to burgers, salads and sandwiches. And they are so easy to make!
Seema Sriram says
The colour of this pickled Onions is so beautiful. I would love this spooned on my burgers, so yum.
Kate says
I'm so glad I came across this recipe! They were so quick and easy to make. We added them to our sandwiches for lunch. And now I have plenty on hand to add to all sorts of dishes!