Pickled Crimson Onions (30 Minutes!)

I am all about including some crimson onion to dishes to jazz them up, however these Pickled Crimson Onions are on one other degree! It makes just about any meal style restaurant worthy.

They’re so good with every kind of Mexican dishes, together with chicken tinga tacos, steak tacos, and taco bowls. However they’re additionally wonderful on burgers, salads, grilled rooster, and a lot extra. Let’s be sincere: these pickled onions style wonderful in nearly the whole lot.

The wonderful thing about pickled onions, versus many pickles, is that they’re fast. No lengthy brining time. No sophisticated canning. These are able to go in simply half-hour, and all you want is crimson onion, some limes, white vinegar, salt, and peppercorns.

Key Components and Substitutions

To make these tangy pickled onions, you will have just a few key elements that you just in all probability have already got readily available:

• Crimson onion: With its barely candy taste and shiny shade, crimson onions are the right alternative for pickling. Candy onions, yellow onions, white onions, and child onions additionally work.
• Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice is the important thing to locking in all that zesty taste. I extremely suggest sticking to recent limes for the freshest taste. Lime juice is vital in making Mexican pickled onions. If you happen to favor a extra conventional pickled onion, swap it for white or apple cider vinegar. If you happen to use all vinegar, you will have so as to add some water. Directions beneath.
• White vinegar: Be happy to swap this out for apple cider vinegar for those who favor.
• Salt: Pickles want salt to deliver out the flavour. Kosher or sea salt is greatest.
• Peppercorns. Black peppercorns are non-obligatory, however I really like the peppery taste they add to this dish.
• Elective sweetener: Crimson onions have lots of innate sweetness, so I do not like including sugar or sweetener to my pickled onions. If you happen to favor a sweeter pickled onion, add 1-2 tablespoons of honey, maple syrup, or white sugar.

Can white or yellow onions be pickled?

Completely! Though this recipe requires crimson onions, you may pickle any sort of onion utilizing the identical methodology. Be happy to strive just a few totally different variations to see which one you want greatest.

Now we have made this recipe with each kind of onion and they’re all scrumptious!

How one can Make Fast Pickled Crimson Onions

These pickled onions could not be simpler to make. Here is what to do.

1. Select Mexican Pickled Onions or Conventional Pickled Crimson Onions

There are two important forms of pickled onion recipes. One is Mexican, and the pickling liquid is usually lime juice. The opposite is extra conventional, utilizing vinegar as the principle liquid.

Each strategies create scrumptious pickled onions. We favor Mexican-style pickled onions for Mexican dishes for the reason that lime within the onions enhances Mexican flavors.

With that mentioned, each strategies are scrumptious and work with any meals you select. One necessary be aware: the normal pickled onions retailer a bit higher within the fridge for the reason that lime juice breaks the onions down extra over time.

2. Thinly Slice the Onions

For each strategies, begin by slicing the onions thinly. Thick onions won’t be pickled in half-hour. If in case you have a mandoline, that’s the easiest way for getting skinny, constant onion slices. In any other case, simply slice them thinly with a pointy knife.

Professional tip: If you happen to favor actually delicate onions, soak them in ice-cold water for half-hour earlier than pickling them. This removes a few of that robust, pungent onion taste.

3. Put together the pickling liquid

For Mexican-style pickled onions, you want sufficient lime juice to cowl the crimson onions sliced utterly. Utilizing a citrus juicer quickens this course of. For each crimson onion, you’ll doubtless want 4-5 limes. Mix the lime juice with white vinegar, kosher salt, and peppercorns.

For a extra conventional pickling liquid, simmer ¾ cups of vinegar, ¼ cups of water, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1-2 tablespoons of sweetener on the stovetop.

4. Mix onions and pickling liquid

Mix the thinly sliced onions and pickling liquid. Give the whole lot stir or shake, and press the onions down into the liquid to make sure they’re absolutely submerged.

Let the crimson onions relaxation for 30-60 minutes. Style and season with salt if wanted.

5. Serve

Now it is time to eat! Serve the pickled crimson onions together with your favourite dishes. The leftovers may be saved within the fridge for as much as two weeks.

Can I make this recipe within the microwave?

Sure! To make Pickled Crimson Onions within the microwave, comply with these easy steps:

1. Slice the onions: Use a pointy knife or mandolin to thinly slice the crimson onion. Place the slices in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Put together the pickling liquid: In a separate microwave-safe container, mix lime juice, white vinegar, salt, and peppercorns. You too can add a bit extra lime juice if the onions will not be absolutely coated. Microwave the pickling liquid for about 30-45 seconds to heat it up and dissolve the salt.
3. Mix: Pour the nice and cozy pickling liquid over the onions within the bowl. Stir or press the onions down to verify they’re largely submerged.
4. Let sit: Permit the onions to sit down for a minimum of half-hour within the microwave-safe bowl, ideally 60 minutes, to soak up the flavors and pickle.

This fast microwave methodology will nonetheless offer you these deliciously tangy pickled onions excellent for topping tacos and sandwiches or including to your favourite dishes!

Pickled Onions Variations: Spicy, Garlicky, and Extra

Sure! You may put together this recipe as is or swap it up a bit to fit your preferences. Listed below are a few of my favourite methods to make these pickled onions your personal:

• Make it spicy: Attempt including some jalapeños, serrano, or habanero peppers to the jar together with your onions. Habanero peppers are probably the most conventional in Mexico, however they are going to be actually spicy.
• Add garlic: For some additional garlic-y taste, strive including some thinly sliced garlic cloves to the jar.
• Add some herbs: For a ton of added taste, be happy to toss some herbs into the combination. A few of my prime decisions embrace recent dill and bay leaves.
• Change up your vinegar: No white vinegar readily available? No drawback! You should use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this dish as nicely.
• Blanch the onions: If you wish to mellow out the onion taste, blanch them in scorching water earlier than including them to your brine.

Methods to Serve Pickled Onions

Pickled Crimson Onions are an extremely enjoyable dish to serve, as they go nice with nearly the whole lot! To get you began, listed below are just a few concepts for serving your pickled onions:

• Tacos: Pickled Crimson Onions are a simple strategy to give your common previous tacos a refreshing twist. Attempt including them to those Steak Tacos, Chicken Street Tacos, or these Shrimp Tacos.
• Bowls: Whether or not you are making burrito bowls or Mediterranean bowls, you possibly can’t go flawed with a handful of pickled onions. They assure to create a shocking and photo-worthy bowl.
• Any Mexican entrée: Pickled Crimson Onions are the right strategy to clean up your favourite Mexican meals! Along with tacos, strive including pickled onions to Machaca Burritos, Pollo Pibil, Chicken Tinga, Sofritas, or Shrimp Fajitas.
• Salads: Pickled onions are a phenomenal and tangy method to boost almost any salad recipe. I discover that they add a scrumptious crunch when added to this Mexican Chopped Salad, Mexican Street Corn Salad, or this Watermelon and Avocado Salad.
• Burgers: Sorry, uncooked onions, however there is a new burger topping on the town. Critically although, pickled onions are an ideal addition to burger evening. Attempt utilizing them to prime these Jalapeno Turkey Burgers, Salmon Burgers, and Chicken Burgers.
• Sandwiches: Just like burgers, pickled onions are an ideal different to the uncooked onions you’d usually placed on sandwiches and wraps.
• Egg Dishes: Prime scrambled eggs, omelets, or avocado toast with pickled onions to reinforce the flavour!