My easy pickled red onions are a beautiful accompaniment to elevate your salads, sides and main dishes. Few condiments have the power to completely transform a dish like pickled onions and I'm going to show you how easy it is to pickle red onions with just 3 simple ingredients.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
There are many reasons to love these quick pickled red onions.
- They are only 3 ingredients - making them the easiest pickled onion recipe going around.
- You'll only need one pot - just one saucepan, and one jar is all you need. Minimal mess and fuss.
- They take under 5 minutes to make - did I mention they're also super quick to make?
- They will elevate your salads, sides and main dishes with minimal effort.
- They pack bold flavour - sharp, and tangy they will add extra flavour to your dishes.
- The colour - who doesn't love a bright pink condiment?
Recipe Ingredients
For these pickled red onions you'll only need 3 Ingredients.
Red Onion - slice your red onion as finely as possible. If you have a mandolin this would be a good way to slice them, however I do not trust myself within an inch of a mandolin so opted to hand slice them.
White Wine Vinegar - you'll need 150 mls or ⅔ of a cup of good quality white wine vinegar.
Sugar - 1 tablespoon of white sugar.
Water - 100mls or 3.3 fluid ounces of water.
And that's it! This is why they are so simple!
Step by Step Instructions
- Heat the white wine vinegar, water and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat until simmering. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
- Turn off the heat.
- Add in the onion and stir.
- Sit for 1 hour
- Transfer to a large jar.
It's that simple!
FAQ, Tips and Substitutions
What do Pickled Onions taste like?
They're a delicious mixture of sweet and tangy, and also beautifully crunchy. The red onion is has a subtle flavour that's not too overwhelming, and the sugar gives it a sweetness to the acidic onion and vinegar.
What can I put pickled red onions on?
The beauty of these pickled onions is that you can top them on so many different things!
- They make a great addition to tacos, and taco bowls.
- Add them to your next salad. They make a great addition to my smoked salmon salad.
- They make a wonderful side to a charcuterie board - pair them with a hard cheese.
- Use them for a breakfast side dish - perfect topped on a salmon bagel or on a side with eggs.
How do I cut onions for pickles
The key to these onions is to finely slice the onions. You can use a sharp kitchen knife, or a mandolin. Try and keep the slices consistent so that they pickle evenly.
Can I substitute any ingredients?
I haven't tried any substitutes in this recipe, however the only substitute I would consider is swapping the white wine vinegar for plain white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
There are many other onions you can pickle - whole onions for example, but I would not substitute red onions for brown or white onions.
How do I store these onions?
Store your pickled red onions in a large mason jar or any jar that can seal properly. I use a 350ml jar that easily fits one whole sliced onion plus the liquid.
These will last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in a clean, sealed jar.
📖 Recipe
Easy Pickled Red Onions
Ingredients
- 1 red onion very finely sliced
- 150 ml white wine vinegar
- 100 ml water
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
Instructions
- Finely slice the red onions as evenly as possible - using a knife or a mandolin.
- Place the white wine vinegar, water and sugar in a small saucepan.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce to medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes until the sugar dissolved.
- Turn the heat off.
- Add the red onions to the saucepan and stir, ensuring all of the onions are covered.
- Sit the onions in the vinegar for one hour, until cool.
- Pour into a clean jar and cool completely before refrigerating .
Georgie says
These are the easiest pickled onions you'll make! So simple, and they absolutely elevate your dishes! They're amazing on salads and tacos.