These Pickled Pink Onions are the perfect tangy treat to elevate any dish from ordinary to extraordinary. With their vibrant pink hue and mouthwatering zing, they'll have you craving more after just one bite. Trust me, these little gems are about to become your new obsession!
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I can’t think of a better way to enjoy red onions than pickling them! I used to buy them in the store until I realized how easy it is to make them at home. This quick pickled red onions recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and it comes together so quickly.
I’ve tested this recipe with all types of vinegar and have found that using Apple Cider Vinegar is what creates that super vibrant pink color that makes these onions so visually appealing.
Whether you're looking to add a punch of flavor to your tacos, burgers, or salads, or simply want a tangy snack to munch on, these pickled beauties have got you covered.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick & Easy: This easy recipe requires very little work, yet it is packed with flavor.
- Customizable: You can tweak this recipe by adding peppers, and herbs, or using a different sweetener.
- No Additives: Many store-bought picked onions contain things like citric acid, calcium chloride, and natural flavors. All of which is are unnecessary additives.
Ingredients
- Red Onion: You will need 1 large red onion, cut into thin slices. You can do this with a knife or use a mandoline slicer.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: You can certainly use any vinegar you have on hand, however, if you are looking to achieve that bright pink color, Apple Cider Vinegar works best.
- Coconut Sugar: You will need some sort of sugar for this recipe. I’m a fan of using Coconut Sugar, however, if you don’t have any on hand, date sugar, maple syrup, or honey will work.
- Sea Salt
- Water: Filtered water. We have had our Berkey Water Filter for about 8 years now and LOVE it.
Please see the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1. Place the thinly sliced onions in a mason jar or large jar.
Step 2. In a heat-safe bowl, add the apple cider vinegar, coconut sugar, sea salt salt, and hot water. Mix until sugar is dissolved.
Step 3. Pour the vinegar mixture over the onion slices and make sure they are submerged.
Step 4. Cover the onions and allow them to sit at room temperature until cool, then place the glass container in the fridge. The pickling process will continue in the fridge and the flavors will continue to develop.
Substitutions and variations
- Vinegar: While the apple cider vinegar is what provides that bright pink color, if you are in a pinch you can substitute it with white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
- Sugar: If you don't have coconut sugar, you can substitute it with date sugar, maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar.
- Add A Kick: You can spice up the basic recipe by adding hot peppers, peppercorns, sliced jalapeno, or red pepper flakes.
- Add In: Add spices like peppercorns, bay leaf, or garlic cloves to the pickling liquid for extra flavor.
- Different Onions: While they won't be pink, you can try different variations by pickling white onions, yellow onions, or sweet onions.
Serving
I love using pickled red onions as a topping for:
- Tacos
- Quesadillas
- Nachos
- Burgers
- Sandwiches
- Salads
- Avocado Toast
- Buddha Bowls
- Potato Salad
Storage
The easiest way to store these quick-pickled onions is in a tightly sealed glass jar. They will keep in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
FAQs
Certainly! Increase or decrease the amount of sugar to your desired level of sweetness, and adjust the vinegar accordingly for the level of tanginess you prefer.
While this recipe is designed for refrigerator pickles, you can safely can pickled onions following proper canning guidelines.
Of course! Simply adjust the quantities of ingredients accordingly to make a larger batch.
Not necessarily. This recipe calls for a simple pickling liquid, but you can add chili peppers or red pepper flakes if you prefer a spicier kick.
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Quick Pickled Pink Onions
Ingredients
- 1 Medium Red Onion thinly sliced
- ½ Cup Apple Cinder Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Sugar
- 2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 ¼ cup Warm Water
Instructions
- Place the thinly sliced onions in a mason jar or large jar.
- In a heat-safe bowl, add the apple cider vinegar, coconut sugar, sea salt salt, and hot water. Mix until sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the vinegar mixture over the onion slices and make sure they are submerged.
- Cover the onions and allow them to sit at room temperature until cool, then place the glass container in the fridge. The pickling process will continue in the fridge and the flavors will continue to develop.
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