The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions - Seasoned to Taste (2024)

Looking for the ultimate tasty topping to your avocado toast or tacos? The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions recipe is here and comes together in minutes with minimal work. With just a handful ingredients, you'll have tangy, tart aromatic pickled red onions in minutes!

Love pickled red onion like I do? Try my Carne Asada Mushroom Tacos with Pickled Red Onion, Cajun Catfish with Cheesy Grits and Pickled Red Onion or !

The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions - Seasoned to Taste (1)

Pickled Red Onions are my new favorite topping! As a matter of fact, if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you're just about tired of seeing me use them, that's how much I enjoy pickled red onions!

I have the Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions recipe and I'm so excited to share it with you today. It's an easy, no fuss recipe including a how-to video if you're a visual learner like me! If you're a skeptic or never tried pickled red onions, it's important to realize, you'll want to stick around to read through this post!

WHAT DO PICKLED RED ONIONS TASTE LIKE?

Pickled Red Onions have a distinct flavor and texture. For one thing, they hold true to the crunchiness and slight bite that raw or cooked onions provide. Once pickled, they become sweet, tangy and slightly aromatic providing a tasty addition to an array of dishes. If you like dill pickles or pickled food items, I'm certain you'll love pickled red onions!

They are usually served with breakfast toast such as avocado toast or eggs on toast and are mostly known for being a unique topping for tacos! As a matter of fact, I haven't met a taco that pickled red onions wouldn't be a great addition for, they are just that good!

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN THIS RECIPE?

The amazing part about this recipe is it's only household pantry and fridge items required. There's several ways to build this recipe, of course start with the base of the recipe, here's what you'll need.

  • Red Onion
  • Hot Water
  • Garlic Clove
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Black Peppercorn (optional)
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ANY OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS TO ADD TO THE RECIPE?

What's exciting about this recipe and pickling red onions is that the additions and flavors are endless! Again, you can't go wrong with adding your favorite herbs and spices. It truly depends on the flavor profile you're seeking, the longer the onions pickle, the more in depth the flavor becomes.

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Here are a few ways you can add additional ingredients to enhance the flavor.

  • The garlic in my recipe is optional. Omit it and you'll have a more traditional flavor profile of pickled red onions. By the same token leaving it in, provides a slight aromatic garlic flavor that's delicious.
  • Black peppercorns is an optional ingredient too. This just provides a slight peppery note to the onions that pair well if you're looking for a hint of spice. As a matter of fact, crushed red pepper could work great!
  • Dried Herbs such as rosemary, dill seed, basil, cilantro, bay leaf, mustard seed and practically mosts dried herbs will work with this recipe. It really provides the strong pickled flavor your taste buds are accustomed to.
  • Add fresh lemon or lime juice! While I haven't tried this variation yet, I've had several friends rave about adding particularly lime juice. This addition is more traditional for mexican inspired pickled red onions but I'm certain it tastes amazing!
  • Different types of vinegar! Get festive and try different variations of vinegar. While this recipe calls for apple cider vinegar, try rice wine vinegar, red wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar. I'm certain they all provide an excellent flavor profile!
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HOW TO STORE PICKLED RED ONIONS

Pickled red onions are best stored in an airtight container. Such as the suggested items below.

  • Mason jar with attached lid.
  • Mason jar with pickling lid and screw cap.
  • Old glass jars with lids that seal tightly.
  • Tupperware that is glass or ceramic with a tight lid.
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HOW TO MAKE THE BEST TANGY PICKLED RED ONION

First, start with a red onion. For this recipe I used a small red onion based off the size of my mason jar. At the same time, thinly slice the onion into small ringlets or cut in half depending on the size of your jar. Next, place sliced onions to the side and begin prepping your hot water.

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At this instant, determine if you'll heat the water by boiling it on the stove or microwaving it. In either case, the water needs to be piping (almost boiling) hot. After the water is to temperature, add the sugar and salt and stir until dissolved.

As soon as the vinegar solution is dissolved, place the red onions in the desired container of your choice. To point out, I used a small glass mason jar with an attached lid. Next, pour the vinegar solution over the raw red onions pouring until the onions are completely emerged in the solution.

Then top with fresh garlic slices and black peppercorns closing the lid tightly. At this moment, gently shake the mason jar to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the jar.

Finally, allow the red onions to pickle (and come to room temperature) for at least 20-30 minutes and for best results, let pickle overnight. It's important to note, these pickled red onions get better with time.

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HOW LONG CAN PICKLED RED ONIONS BE STORED?

It's important to note that you should allow the pickled red onions to come to room temperature before storing them in the fridge. Once they are cool and ready to be refrigerated, keep these important notes in mind!

  • Pickled red onions have a shelf life (stored in the fridge) for 2-3 weeks.
  • Best served the first week when they are fresh. I promise they'll only last about a week anyway!
  • If the onions begin to have a "bad" smell or become bubbly, discard them and make a new batch.

If you enjoy this recipe, please leave me a rating and comment below! I love connecting with you, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions - Seasoned to Taste (8)

The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions

Carita

Looking for the ultimate tasty topping to your avocado toast or tacos? The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions recipe is here and comes together in minutes with minimal work. With just a handful ingredients, you'll have tangy, tart aromatic pickled red onions in minutes!

5 from 2 votes

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 small Red Onion thinly sliced
  • 1 cup Hot Water
  • ½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 clove Fresh Garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Peppercorn

Instructions

  • First, start with a red onion. Thinly slice the onion into small ringlets or cut in half depending on the size of your jar.

  • At this instant, determine if you'll heat the water by boiling it on the stove or microwaving it. In either case bring water to a slow boil.

  • After the water is to temperature, add the vinegar, sugar and salt and stir until dissolved.

  • As soon as the vinegar solution is dissolved, place the red onions in the desired container of your choice.

  • Next, pour the vinegar solution over the raw red onions pouring until the onions are completely emerged in the solution.

  • Then top with fresh garlic slices and black peppercorns closing the lid tightly.

  • Gently shake the mason jar to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the jar.

  • Finally, allow the red onions to pickle (and come to room temperature) for at least 20-30 minutes and for best results, let pickle overnight.

  • Enjoy!

Keyword pickled red onion

The Best Tangy Pickled Red Onions - Seasoned to Taste (2024)

FAQs

What's the best vinegar to pickle onions? ›

I particularly like a mix of white wine and rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are a fun tangy combination. These variations are great, but they're totally optional; your quick pickled onions will be delicious even if you stick to the basic recipe!

What does soaking onions in vinegar do? ›

You can get rid of the strong taste by soaking sliced onions in ice water for 20 to 30 minutes or by sprinkling them with an acid such as vinegar. Onions soaked in ice water will get very crisp while those sprinkled with vinegar will soften a bit, but they will lose the strong taste and become sweeter.

Is white vinegar better than apple cider vinegar for pickling onions? ›

Using white vinegar as a substitute for apple cider vinegar will bring a more intense acidity and a cleaner taste to your pickles. This can be a good choice if you want to preserve the natural color and taste of your ingredients.

How long do pickled onions last in vinegar? ›

Pickled onions can last in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. I like them best during the first week because they are the most crisp, but they're still yummy later on.

Should onions be salted before pickling? ›

Salt is a very important component when pickling, as it helps prevent the production of harmful bacteria by drawing out moisture. There are two types of 'salting'. Dry salting prior to the pickling process (which the recipe below uses) or wet salting, which uses a brine as part of the pickling process.

What is the best tasting vinegar for pickles? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Is apple cider vinegar or vinegar better for pickles? ›

Because apple cider vinegar is made from apples rather than barley, corn rice or wine, it gives pickles a mellower taste. Using a white distilled vinegar, for example, will create a harsher flavour. But as well as being gentler on your palate, using apple cider vinegar also adds health benefits to pickles.

How long should I soak red onions? ›

When preparing raw onions, soak in cold water before hand to remove some of the pungency and soften the flavor. However since soaking too long will dilute the flavor, soaking in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes is recommended.

Why do you put baking soda on onions? ›

Baking soda makes the onions more alkaline, which speeds up the browning reactions necessary for properly caramelized onions. But it also weakens the pectin that holds the onion's cells together, turning what should be soft but distinct pieces of browned onion into a nauseating stew of pea-green mush.

Are vinegar pickled onions good for you? ›

I can't stop eating pickled red onions. And turns out they're really good for you. They are good for digestion, heart health, and can reduce your risk of stroke. They are also an antioxidant and loaded with nutrients.

What can you add to vinegar to make it taste better? ›

Infused: To bring extra flavor to salads, sauces, and meats, you can create your own herb-infused vinegar. Commonly used picks include basil, dill, rosemary, thyme, and garlic.

Can I mix white vinegar and apple cider vinegar for pickling? ›

You can use any kind of vinegar, as long as it is at least 5% acid. Each vinegar adds it's own personality to your pickling project of course, but they are all inter-changeable, as long as they have 5% acidity.

Can you reuse pickled onion vinegar? ›

So it is not a good idea to re-use the vinegar as you may bring about fermentation in the ensuing batch. Once you've eaten all the pickles, you could use the remaining vinegar to start a mayonnaise, brine a chicken, flavour a potato salad or liven up a dip.

Do homemade pickled red onions go bad? ›

HOW LONG WILL homemade RED ONIONS LAST IN THE FRIDGE? If using the quick method, pickled onions will last up to one month in the fridge. If you have used the slow method, store the onions in the fridge for up to two months.

Why are my pickled onions slimy? ›

if your pickled red onions are slimy and limp then you May be cutting them the wrong way. we have two primary ways to slice onions pole to pole or orbital.

What to eat with pickled red onions? ›

Sandwiches: Brighten up any deli sandwich, burger, or saucy BBQ sandwich. Tacos: The sweet acidity is especially good on fish tacos and carnitas. Mayo-based salads: Add chopped pickled red onions to egg salads and potato salads, or use as a topper for deviled eggs.

Should I blanch red onions before pickling? ›

Blanch red onions.

This step will help cut the raw onion flavor for those who prefer a milder tasting pickle. If you don't mind the raw flavor of onions, feel free to skip this step.

Why do you boil before pickling? ›

You take all of your ingredients, apart from the product that is being pickled, and bring them to a boil. The heating process helps activate the flavors in the brine and marry them together.

Can you use white distilled vinegar for pickling onions? ›

4 Prepare your pickling vinegar

You could use cider vinegar. You could use wine vinegar. You could use clear distilled vinegar for clarity of onion. Or you could use a combination of all three.

What is the difference between pickling vinegar and distilled vinegar? ›

In North America, what constitutes picking vinegar is defined by strength. The minimum acidity accepted for pickling uses is 5 %, and that is also assumed to be the standard strength. The default pickling vinegar is also assumed to be white distilled vinegar made from grain, usually corn.

What is the pickling vinegar method? ›

Cut vegetables are submerged in just boiled vinegar brine. This process destroys the natural culture and rich enzymes. The acidic nature of denatured vinegar does the preserving. Salt, sugar and spices are added to flavor these pickles.

Is white vinegar the same as white wine vinegar? ›

What are the main differences between white wine vinegar and white vinegar? White wine vinegar is made from fermented white wine, while white vinegar is made from distilled grain alcohol. White wine vinegar has a more delicate flavor with hints of fruitiness, while white vinegar has a sharp, acidic taste.

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