High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Orange-Garlic Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Bright, tangy, and just a little sweet, these quick-pickled red onions are the kind of condiment that makes everything they touch taste more alive. The brine gets its gentle sweetness from honey and fresh orange juice — real, whole ingredients that do the job beautifully without any processed sweeteners hiding in the mix. That matters more than you'd think, because so many store-bought pickled onions and condiments sneak in corn syrup to balance acidity, and it's nearly impossible to tell from the label alone. Here, you control every ingredient from start to finish. Smashed garlic, sliced ginger, and a strip of orange zest steep right in the warm brine, layering in flavor that feels almost effortless for how impressive the result is. After about 45 minutes at room temperature, the onions turn a gorgeous deep pink and soften just enough to pile onto tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, or anything else that needs a little lift. 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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