Quick and Easy Pickled Red Onions

A vibrant pink jar of pickled red onions brightens and enhances a variety of recipes. This sweet but tangy garnish adds a zesty crunch to your sandwiches (like the Pulled Pork Sandwich below), burgers, tacos, or salads (like the Watermelon Arugula Salad below). It’s a quick and easy recipe that I promise will have you opening your refrigerator and reaching for it time and again.

There are certain garnishes that add character and dimension to many different dishes. Pickled red onions definitely fall into that distinguished category.

Why I love these Easy Pickled Red Onions:

They jazz up many different dishes with a lovely pop of fuschia color. 

The crispness of these little jewels brings a crunchy characteristic to other main courses.

A zippy, sweet taste enhances the flavors of other elements of a dish. 

This recipe which is quick and easy can be made in less than ten minutes and will last for weeks in the refrigerator.

Only five ingredients make up this super simple recipe. 

The ingredients found in Pickled Red Onions

The Onions

The beauty of that pinkish purple color comes from the red onions. You can use yellow or white ones but they won’t give you the pop of color that is so prevalent with classic pickled onions. Also, red onions have a milder flavor than the white or yellow ones.

When choosing red onions, make sure and grab those that are heavy for their size, firm, and unbruised. Avoid those that have brown, black, or soft spots. Soft spots can quickly develop mold. Also, you will want to store them in a cool, dry, and dark place with their skin on.

To slice the onions, cut them in half and then slice them about 1/4 inch thick into half-moon slivers.

The Vinegar

Vinegar is obvious an essential ingredient for Pickled Red Onions. And most classic pickled onion recipes call for either white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. I chose white balsamic because it has a mild flavor therefore it won’t overpower the onions. It embodies a sweet-tart taste while leaving a wonderful floral and fruity finish. You can easily substitute the white balsamic vinegar with the white wine or apple cider one. I just wouldn’t use regular balsamic vinegar as it’s pretty potent.

The Sweetener

Basic white granulated sugar is what this recipe calls for which its sweetness helps balance out the vinegar.

• Keto Version: Since my husband is on a Keto diet, I’m always looking for substitutes so that he can enjoy the dishes I make as well. I use Xylosweet for a sugar substitute which is measured exactly like sugar. Honestly, I cannot tell the difference between the two. I try to be mindful as well of too much sugar in my diet, so I use this every day in my coffee and absolutely love it.

Salt

I use just one-half teaspoon of kosher salt to help bring out the other flavors.

Whole Allspice

For this recipe, I added seven or eight whole allspice berries to the jar.  This spice combines cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper. The flavors give the perfect hint of warmth to the recipe.

How to Make Pickled Red Onions

These pickled onions are literally one of the easiest garnishments to make. Bring one and a half cups of water to boil in a small saucepan. Turn the heat off and add your sliced onions. Stir and let them sit for five minutes and then drain.

Add the drained onions to a small jar. Whisk together sugar, salt, white balsamic vinegar, and add to the drained onions. Add the allspice berries to the jar. Let sit overnight in the refrigerator for the onions to marinate well. And that’s it! A painlessly simple process.

How to store your Pickled Red Onions

Make sure and store the jar of onions in your refrigerator. They are at their best if you eat them within three days. But they will last up to three weeks in the refrigerator. 

Options to experiment with

Peppercorns: Adds a nice peppery flavor to the onions.

Herbs: A few fresh sprigs of either rosemary, thyme, or oregano will give them an earthy hint. Throw in a bay leave or two.

Jalapeno Peppers: If you’re looking for a little bit of heat with the pickled red onions, add a few slices of jalapenos along with a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Garlic: Throw in a couple of garlic cloves to give them another twist.

There are so many delicious options on how to serve these beauties. Top them on any Mexican dish, especially fish tacos. You can add them all to all kinds of sandwiches or wraps, or combine them with lots of different salads. The list goes on and on. My favorites though are found in the recipes below.

A perfect compliment to this Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta Cheese.

Pickled Red Onions add a wonderful crunch to this Pulled Pork Sandwich.

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