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The best condiment to add a boost of flavor to almost any savory recipe, from eggs and chilis to tacos and salads. You’ll love the flavor boost you get from these easy-to-make pickled red onions.

Prep: 10 mins Total: 1 hour, 10 mins
Servings: Makes 1½ cups 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 large red onion
  • 1 cup hot water
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar* (optional)
  • 1¼ teaspoons salt
  • 10-12 whole peppercorns (optional)

Instructions

  1. Slice the onion as thin as possible using a knife or mandolin slicer; set aside. 
  2. In a large bowl, combine the hot water, vinegar, sugar (if using), salt, and peppercorns. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve.
  3. Add the sliced onions to the bowl of liquid and stir gently. Press down on the sliced onions so they’re submerged in the liquid.
  4. Cover the bowl with a clean towel or lid. Set aside the onions to rest on the counter at room temperature for 1 hour before serving or transferring the onions and liquid to a jar or small covered container to the fridge for longer storage. The pickled onions will keep in the fridge in a tightly covered container for up to 3 weeks.

Notes

This is a refrigerator-type pickle and not intended for canning. The acidity in this recipe is too low for canning, so store the pickled onions in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

*Omit the sugar for a Whole30 or Paleo-friendly version. Doing so will make for slightly more acidic flavor, but they will still taste delicious.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 6
  • Fat: 0 g
  • (Sat Fat: 0 g)
  • Sodium: 85 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 1 g
  • (Fiber: 0 g
  • Sugar: 1 g)
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Jessica Beacom