Illustration for Quick Pickled Red Onions
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Quick Pickled Red Onions

Crisp, tangy quick-pickled red onions—ready in about 30 minutes and great for tacos, salads, burgers and sandwiches.

British
easy
39 min
6
vegan
gluten-free
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 4 min
Ingredients
  • •1 large red onionthinly sliced
  • •150ml white wine vinegar (or cider vinegar)
  • •150ml water
  • •1 tbsp caster sugar
  • •1½ tsp fine salt
  • •1 tsp black peppercorns(optional)
  • •½ tsp Kashmiri chilli flakes (or dried chilli flakes)(optional)to taste
  • •½ tsp mustard seeds(optional)
  • •1 bay leaf(optional)
Instructions
  1. 1

    Sterilise a clean heatproof jar (or wash it very well). Pack in the thinly sliced red onion.

    3 min

  2. 2

    Add the black peppercorns, Kashmiri chilli flakes, mustard seeds and bay leaf to the jar, if using.

    1 min

  3. 3

    Put the white wine vinegar (or cider vinegar), water, caster sugar and fine salt in a small pan. Warm over a medium heat, stirring just until the sugar and salt dissolve (no need to boil).

    4 min

  4. 4

    Carefully pour the warm pickling liquid over the onions to fully cover. Press the onions down so they’re submerged, then close the jar loosely until cooled to room temperature.

    2 min

  5. 5

    Once cool, seal the jar and refrigerate. The onions are ready to eat after 20–30 minutes, but taste best after 1–2 hours.

    30 min

  6. 6

    Store in the fridge and use within 2 weeks. Always use a clean fork to remove onions to keep the pickles fresh.

    1 min

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