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Pickled Onions Recipe

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4.1 from 57 reviews

This simple Pickled Onions recipe offers a tangy and slightly sweet way to enhance your meals. Thinly sliced red onions are soaked in a warm brine of vinegar, water, cane sugar, and sea salt, offering quick-pickled onions that are ready to eat in just an hour but develop the best flavor after resting overnight. Perfect as a tangy topping for salads, tacos, sandwiches, or grilled dishes.

  • Total Time: 15 minutes plus overnight resting time
  • Yield: 3 servings

Ingredients

Pickling Brine

  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • 2 cups water
  • ⅓ cup cane sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sea salt
  • (Optional) 2 garlic cloves
  • (Optional) 1 teaspoon mixed peppercorns

Vegetables

  • 2 small red onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Slice Onions: Thinly slice the red onions and evenly divide them into 2–3 sterilized glass jars, preparing them for the pickling process.
  2. Prepare Brine: In a saucepan, combine the white vinegar, water, cane sugar, and sea salt. Heat gently while stirring until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved to create the pickling brine.
  3. Cool Brine: Remove the brine from heat and allow it to cool slightly until it is warm but not hot to prevent cooking the onions when poured over.
  4. Pour Brine Over Onions: Carefully pour the warm brine over the sliced onions in the jars, making sure the onions are completely submerged for even pickling.
  5. Cool to Room Temperature: Leave the jars uncovered until they reach room temperature to ensure safety before sealing.
  6. Seal and Refrigerate: Seal the jars tightly and place them in the refrigerator to chill and intensify the flavors.
  7. Rest and Serve: The pickled onions are ready to eat after 1 hour of refrigeration but are best when left to rest overnight for a deeper, more developed tangy flavor.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, add optional garlic cloves and mixed peppercorns into the jars before pouring the brine.
  • Sterilize jars properly to ensure longer shelf life of the pickled onions.
  • Store pickled onions in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 weeks for best freshness.
  • These pickled onions pair wonderfully with grilled meats, sandwiches, salads, and tacos.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Condiment
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: International
  • Diet: Vegetarian