BHA & BHT Free Orange-Garlic Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Quick-pickled red onions are one of those condiments that quietly transform everything they touch — tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, roasted vegetables — and this version brings a bright citrus twist that makes it genuinely hard to stop snacking straight from the jar. The brine is built from apple cider vinegar, fresh orange juice, and a strip of orange zest, so every bite carries that sweet-tart punch alongside the sharp bite of the onion. Smashed garlic and sliced fresh ginger steep right in the warm liquid, layering in savory depth without any processed flavor additives. A spoonful of honey rounds everything out naturally, which means there's no need for the synthetic preservatives — like BHA and BHT — that show up in so many store-bought pickled products. The whole process is straightforward: warm the brine, pour it over tightly packed onions, and let time do the rest. Optional ground turmeric gives the finished jar a gorgeous golden blush alongside the deep pink of the onions. Keep a jar in the fridge and you'll find yourself reaching for it constantly.
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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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