BHA & BHT Free Garlic-Herb Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Crisp, jewel-pink, and fragrant with garlic and fresh herbs, these quick-pickled red onions are the kind of condiment that makes everything they touch taste more alive. A honey-sweetened apple cider vinegar brine does the heavy lifting, turning raw onion into something tangy, slightly sweet, and deeply savory in under an hour. For anyone navigating preservative-free eating, store-bought pickled onions can be a minefield — most commercial versions rely on synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend shelf life. This recipe sidesteps all of that with nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients: fresh thyme, rosemary, smashed garlic, sea salt, and honey. The technique is genuinely simple — warm the brine, pour it over the packed jar, and let the refrigerator do the rest. Pile them onto tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, or grilled meats, and watch them disappear faster than you expected.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced into half-moons
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly smashed
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Instructions
- 1
Pack the sliced red onion into a clean 16 oz glass jar, pressing gently so the slices fit snugly.
- 2
Tuck the smashed garlic cloves, thyme sprigs, and rosemary sprig down into the jar among the onion slices.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!