This quick pickled red onions recipe is a favorite for adding bright flavor to almost any dish. It only takes about 30 minutes to get them prepped and chilling. This guide will show you how to make them, how to store them, and different ways to customize the flavor for your family.
Ingredients for the Pickled Red Onion Recipe:
- 1 large red onion sliced very thinly
- ¾ cup of red wine or apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup of water
- 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
- 2 cloves of garlic sliced (optional)
Preparing the Vinegar Mixture
Pour red wine vinegar, water, sea salt, and maple syrup in a non-reactive saucepan over medium heat. Stir the mixture occasionally. Heat mixture until well combined and salt and syrup have dissolved, then take off heat to cool.
Why Pure Maple Syrup?
I prefer using pure maple syrup instead of sugar because it is already in liquid form. There is no need to wait for the syrup to dissolve as you would sugar. Also, pure maple syrup has a lower glycemic index. Pure maple syrup is not pancake syrup. They are two completely different products.
Adding the Onions
Place sliced onions, and the two cloves of garlic if you decide to add them, in a mason jar or some other container with an airtight seal. Next, shake the jar to allow the ingredients to get to know each other. Place the jar in the fridge. The quick pickled onions will be ready to use in two hours and will last for two weeks.
Options for the Quick Pickled Onions
There are many options to this recipe. Peppercorns make a great addition! Dill and other herbs do too. Sliced jalapenos or crushed red peppers will add some heat to the pickled red onions.
Try this with my two ingredient turkey burgers!
When stored in an airtight container like a mason jar in the refrigerator, these pickled onions should stay fresh and crunchy for about two weeks.
Not at all! While I enjoy the flavor of red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar works beautifully. You could also use white wine vinegar or even regular white vinegar for a sharper tang.
This recipe is a great starting point. You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat, a few whole peppercorns, or even a sprig of fresh dill or oregano for an herbal note.
We use them on almost everything! They are fantastic on tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs. I also love to chop them up and add them to salads or grain bowls for a bright bite of flavor.
As a home cook, I like the subtle, rich flavor that pure maple syrup adds. It dissolves easily and gives the brine a really nice, well-rounded sweetness that complements the tangy vinegar.
Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe
Ingredients
- One large red onion sliced very thinly
- ¾ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup of water
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 cloves garlic sliced optional
Method
- Pour red wine vinegar, water, sea salt, and maple syrup in a non-reactive saucepan over medium heat.
- Stirring occasionally, heat mixture until well combined and salt and syrup have dissolved.
- Take off heat to cool.
- Place sliced onions, and garlic if using, in a mason jar or something with an airtight seal.
- Shake the jar a bit and place in the refrigerator. The onions are ready to use in about 2 hours. The pickled red onion recipe should be good for about 2 weeks.
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