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Quick Pickled Red Onions

You only need 10 minutes to prepare these sweet, tangy and zesty Quick Pickled Red Onions. They're a perfect addition to so many different dishes!
Course condiment
Cuisine American
Keyword easy pickled red onions, pickled red onions, quick pickled red onions
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 2 cups total
Calories 4kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced (or 2 small red onions)
  • 1 cup water
  • ¾ cup distilled white vinegar (or use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or rice vinegar)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Place sliced onion in a pint jar.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the water, vinegar, sugar and salt to a low simmer. Stir for about 1 minute, or until the sugar and salt completely dissolve in the liquid. Remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Pour the liquid over the onions. Let stand at room temperature for about 1 hour, then cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

This is a basic recipe, which is delicious as written, but can also be customized with a variety of flavors and seasonings.
  • Herbs: add a sprig or two of rosemary, oregano, thyme or dill.
  • Seasonings: such as bay leaves, a clove or two of garlic, a few peppercorns, ground allspice, dried chili, and ginger.
  • Vinegars: mix up the vinegar for slightly different flavor. Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar and rice vinegar all work well.
  • Sweeteners: granulated sugar is a classic ingredient, but you can play around with other sweeteners such as honey, agave, or maple syrup.
  • Mexican Pickled Red Onions: add sliced habañero peppers, jalapeño peppers, or even just a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to make the onions spicy. Use a pinch of ground cumin, oregano, allspice, or bay leaf for traditional Mexican flavor. 
  • Lemon or Lime: replace some of the vinegar with a different acid, like freshly-squeezed lemon juice or lime juice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 4kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg