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Pickled red onions

Pickled red onions in a plate and glass jar

Pickled red onions

Name: Pickled red onions
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Makes 500g
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 300ml cider vinegar; 3 tbsp golden caster sugar; 1 tbsp sea salt flakes; 6 black peppercorns; 6 coriander seeds; 1 star anise; 1 bay leaf; 3 small red onions sliced into rings

Cassie Best

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Makes 500g

Easy

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 5 mins

plus 2 hrs pickling

A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.31 ratingsRate

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These colourful, spiced sweet and sour pickled onions add piquancy to a ploughman’s, or a sharp finish to Mexican food - an ideal edible gift to make ahead and pop in a homemade hamper

Dairy-free

Egg-free

Gluten-free

Nut-free

Vegan

Vegetarian

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Cassie's tips for making pickled red onions:

These pickled onions make an ideal edible gift to make ahead and pop in a homemade hamper. I recommend writing out a label stating the ingredients and storage instructions.
The pickles will develop in flavour over time, during which the acidity will also mellow. You can make and store them for a few weeks, or up to six months before opening. Once opened, they need to be chilled and used within two weeks.
I love to serve these as part of a ploughman’s lunch spread or on a simple cheese sandwich – they’re especially good with mature cheddar. You can put them in any other sandwich you like, as well as burgers, burritos, tacos and fajitas. Sprinkle them over salads for crunch or serve with chutneys, cheese and cold meats, plus crackers.
If you don't have cider vinegar to hang, you could instead use wine vinegar. While malt vinegar would also work, it may result in a stronger, harsher flavour and dominate the sweetness of the onions.

Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

300ml cider vinegar
3 tbsp golden caster sugar
1 tbsp sea salt

flakes
6 black peppercorns
6 coriander seeds
1 star anise
1 bay leaf
3 small red onions

sliced into rings

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Nutrition: per 50g

kcal33
fat0g

low
saturates0g
carbs7g
sugars7g
fibre0.7g
protein0.3g
salt1.23g

Method

step 1

Pour the vinegar into a pan, add the sugar, sea salt, the spices and bay leaf, and bring to a simmer. After 1 min, check that the sugar and salt have dissolved. Remove from the heat.
step 2

Boil the kettle. Put the onion slices in a sieve or colander. Pour over the hot water from the kettle and drain well. When cool enough to handle, pack the onion rings into a 500g sterilised jar (see tip below). Pour over the warm vinegar and seal. Cool, then chill and leave to pickle for 2 hrs. Will keep for 6 months unopened, or 2 weeks in the fridge once opened.

What are pickled onions?

Pickled whole onions are a classic accompaniment to a ploughman’s lunch or cheese sandwich. In this recipe, we use sliced red onions and cider vinegar to create a milder, sweeter, more colourful version of traditional pickled onions, which are usually pickled in malt vinegar. These can be used straightaway or stored as you would a pickle or chutney. You can use them in place of pickled whole onions, but they’re also a good side or garnish for many Mexican- and South American-inspired dishes.

How to sterilise jars

Wash jars and lids in hot, soapy water. Rinse, then place on a baking tray and put in a low oven for 10 mins, or until completely dry. If you want to use rubber seals, remove the seals before putting the jars in the oven and cover these in just-boiled water from the kettle. Make sure you sterilise any funnels, ladles or spoons before you use them, too.

For more info watch our video about how to sterilise jars

Can I freeze pickled onions?

We wouldn’t recommend freezing these, as the texture will deteriorate on defrosting.

More pickled recipes

Shallots are preserved in malt vinegar in our recipe for classic pickled onions, and given a twist in our pink pepper pickled shallots.

For another old favourite, try our recipe for pickled eggs or pickled beetroot.

For an instant, fresh pickle, try our quick pickled cucumbers.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2015

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A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.31 ratings

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