Easy Pickled Red Onions

Are you interested in creating a simple, versatile, and flavorful dish that complements virtually any main, whether it's burgers, tacos, sandwiches, or salads?

Quick pickled red onions are your answer. This recipe, using red wine vinegar, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, is a transformable treat that works wonders with its sweet and tangy taste.

Jump to:

• Ingredients – What You Need:
• Instructions
• Fermentation Process and Weights
• Serving Your Quick Pickled Red Onions
• FAQs
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Ingredients – What You Need:

To create a batch of your very own pickled onions, grab the following ingredients:

Red Onions

A choice between White Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, or Red Wine Vinegar

Salt

Sweetener – this could be maple syrup or honey

Water

Spices (red pepper flakes, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, peppercorns, bay leaf) for added depth of flavor

Instructions

Use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife to slice your red onions. Throw them into a bowl.

Combine vinegar, water, sweetener, and salt in a small saucepan. This mixture serves as your pickling liquid or brine.

Bring the mixture to a boil, ensuring the sweetener and salt dissolve completely.

Pour the hot vinegar brine over the sliced onions, ensuring they're submerged.

Let them cool at room temperature before moving them to the refrigerator.

Store your pickled onions in a glass mason jar or similar airtight container. They'll be ready to use once they've cooled, but their taste matures and deepens after a few days.

Fermentation Process and Weights

Important pointer: Fermentation is anaerobic, which means beneficial bacteria grow without oxygen. For this reason, the vegetables you pickle should remain completely submerged in the brine, hindering any potential rotting down from the surface.

The simplest approach to keep your veggies submerged is to weigh them down with a heavy object. This could be a jar filled with water or even a small rock (note: ensure the rock remains outside the jar containing your veggies). Using weights is crucial if you aim for your ferment to be fully submerged in the vinegar mixture.

Remember, fulfilling these steps accurately complements the overall pickling process, ultimately enhancing the flavor of your pickled onions.

Additional Flavor Boosters

Peppercorns, garlic cloves, a bay leaf, or red pepper flakes can add a considerable flavor kick to your pickled onions. Experiment with whole spices, mustard seeds, and fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano. Always remember to adjust to taste.

Serving Your Quick Pickled Red Onions

Imagine your burritos, sandwiches, salads, or even avocado toast topped with these quick pickled red onions - a delightful crunch and a punch of flavor with every bite. Add them to your quesadillas for an unexpected zing, or use them to garnish your falafel for added vibrancy. Serve them in a dish or jar at the table so everyone can help themselves.

• Sandwiches and Burgers: From a delicious turkey sandwich to a juicy burger, adding pickled onions grants an unexpected tanginess that elevates the overall taste.
• Eggs and Cheese: Sprinkle these vibrant onions on your omelet or frittata, providing a zesty twist that leaves ketchup in the dust.
• Hot Dogs and Hamburgers: Sub in pickled onions for ordinary relish, lending a remarkably revitalizing and tangy taste.
• Meatloaf: For a uniformly dispersed tangy treat, embed some pickled red onions into your meatloaf before baking.
• Seafood: With fish dishes like tuna salad, pickled red onions can unlock and enhance a new flavor and depth.

Endless opportunities abound with your homemade batch of pickled red onions. Experiment and explore the taste and texture dimensions they offer to your everyday meals.

FAQs

Can I store the onions in the refrigerator?

Absolutely. Once you've finished making the pickled red onions, put them in a mason jar or store them in your fridge. They should last for several months.

Can I use a sweetener other than honey or maple syrup?

Yes, you can substitute the honey or maple syrup with granulated sugar or a substitute you prefer.

Can I add other veggies to the pickle jar?

Indeed, you can. Carrots, cucumbers, or radishes can lend additional flavor and texture to your pickles.

This quick pickled red onions recipe will quickly become a staple in your kitchen. It's easy, fast, and a delightful kick to your meals. Explore your culinary creativity and tailor the recipe to your liking by adding different spices and herbs. Happy pickling!

Pickling refers to preserving foods in an acidic solution at a high temperature.