Quick Pickle Red Onion

This quick pickle red onion recipe is so easy, you'll never need to buy pickled red onions again! A combination of red wine vinegar, salt, sugar and a couple of aromatics, pickles sliced red onions just in time for dinner.

I always thought pickling was a long process that required equipment I didn't have and time I couldn't find, but this recipe has changed my thoughts. The pickling ingredients are simple, and then the jar or mixing bowl is simply filled with hot water, so this amount can vary depending on the size of the jar/bowl.

Even so, the result is delicious quick pickled red onions that we add to tacos, burgers, salads and sandwiches. A great little staple that can keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

These pickled red onions are great all year round.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions and Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Related
• Pairing
• Quick Pickle Red Onion

Ingredients

• red wine vinegar - this is my preferred acid to use in this recipe, vinegar is a must for pickling
• salt - the salt adds a bit of brininess to the pickling mixture
• sugar - the sweetness balances out the tart vinegar
• peppercorns - for flavour, but can be omitted if you prefer
• mustard seeds - again, for flavour but if you don't have them, they can be left out

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Hint: thinly slice the red onions so the pickling liquid softens them quicker. Thicker pieces of red onion take longer to soften.

Substitutions and Variations

This is a quick pickle recipe, its not complicated, so experiment a little with variations in flavour, here are some of my suggestions;

• Chilli - if the peppercorns aren't enough, slice a red chilli in half and add that to the pickling mixture, this will add more heat and spice to the red onions
• Vinegar - red wine vinegar is my preference, and the colour compliments the red onion, but you can use white wine vinegar or white vinegar
• Peppercorns and mustard seeds - if you don't want the little hints of mustard seed and peppercorns, you can omit them and the onions still turn out great

Equipment

If I'm not collecting jars from my used groceries, I'm buying them and re using them in whatever way I can. Its much better for the environment and easier on the wallet too. But sometimes, you need a good jar for a specific recipe of pantry staple, and these are my go to. I love these Weck jars, they come in great sizes and prices, and I must say, they look great too!

Storage

Store the pickled onions in the brine, in a jar for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Always ensure the red onions are fully submerged in the pickling liquid before returning the jar to the fridge.

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favourite dishes to serve with quick pickle red onions: