Artificial Food Coloring Free Orange-Garlic Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Tangy, jewel-bright, and bursting with citrusy depth, these quick-pickled red onions are the kind of condiment that makes everything they touch taste more alive. The brine is built entirely from real, whole ingredients — apple cider vinegar, fresh orange juice, honey, and a strip of orange zest — so there's no need to reach for a store-bought version that might sneak in artificial dyes or synthetic preservatives. Red onions already turn a gorgeous deep pink on their own once they hit the acid, which means that vivid color you see in the jar is completely natural. Smashed garlic and fresh ginger round out the flavor with a gentle warmth, while optional turmeric adds an earthy note without any artificial enhancement. The whole process takes under an hour, with most of that time being hands-off while the brine cools and the onions do their thing. Pile them onto tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, or grilled proteins — they bring brightness and crunch to just about anything.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced into half-moons
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 medium orange)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly smashed
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 strip orange zest (about 2 inches long), pith removed
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pack the sliced red onions into a clean 16 oz glass jar, pressing them down gently so they fit snugly.
- 2
Combine the apple cider vinegar, orange juice, water, honey, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey and salt are fully dissolved, about 2–3 minutes. Do not boil.
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