Quick Pickled Red Onions (Heat Required)

No this isn’t an error! This week you got a 2-4-1 which gives you the option of creating pickled red onions with or without heat. This method requires heat. Click here for the no cook method.
Enjoy!

Quick Pickled Red Onions (Heat Required)

Dr. Wendy Dearborne
This quick pickling method for red onions requires heat. Spices and hard herbs can be added to customize your desired flavor profile. Red pickled onions add snap, crunch and a zesty tang to salads, burgers, eggs, etc. This recipe creates a delicious condiment that adds texture and a savory note, without being overwhelming. Red pickled onions can be served with brunch lunch or dinner. This is a heat method of pickling onions and can be used for other julienned or thinly sliced vegetables too like carrots, daikon radish etc.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Marinading 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine American fusion, Asian fusion
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 17 kcal

Equipment

  • Non-reactive saucepan
  • Mason jar with lid
  • Measuring jug

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 2-3 tbsp sugar or sweetener of your choice
  • tsp kosher salt
  • 1 large red onion thinly sliced or 2 medium size onions
  • 1 tsp whole black peppercorns (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp coriander seeds (optional)
  • 1 tsp of whole allspice berries (optional)
  • 1 sprigs thyme or rosemary or any other hard fresh herb (optional)
  • 1-2 whole chili peppers (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Over medium heat, in a non-reactive saucepan add vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and dried spices like pepper corns, all spice, pimento berries, coriander seeds etc., stir well to combine. Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to simmer.
  • In a large enough sterile mason jar, put the hard fresh herbs, whole chili peppers if using, and the thinly sliced onions.
  • Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the onions, fresh herbs and chili peppers. screw on the lid tightly and shake the jar making sure the pickling brine has evenly coated the onions.
  • Then, reopen the jar and make sure that the onions are submerged. You may need to use a spoon to press the onions down or use a fermenting stone or a glass weight.
  • Let the onions marinate and cool for 30 minutes.
  • Pickled red onions are ready to serve. Use a clean fork to remove onions from the jar. Store any remaining pickled onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.

Notes

Slicing Onions
You can use a sharp knife or a mandoline to cut the onions.  Try to keep the onions all the same thickness, as this will make for a better end product.  The thinner the onions are sliced, the quicker they will be pickled. The thicker the onions are sliced the longer it will take for them to be pickled.
Substitutes
White vinegar can be substituted with rice wine, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar.
Sugar can be substituted with maple syrup, honey, agave, or the sweetener of your choice. Be sure that the sweetener is totally dissolved before adding it to the slice onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 12ServingsCalories: 17kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 293mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword pickles, Quick pickled onions, red onions
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