MSG Free Orange-Garlic Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Bright, tangy, and faintly sweet, these quick-pickled red onions are the kind of condiment that makes everything they touch taste more alive. The brine is built from apple cider vinegar, fresh orange juice, and honey — all real, whole ingredients with zero hidden additives to worry about. Smashed garlic, sliced ginger, and a strip of orange zest steep right into the warm liquid, layering in flavor that tastes far more complex than the effort involved. Store-bought pickled onions are a surprisingly common source of flavor enhancers and preservatives, so making your own from scratch is both smarter and genuinely more delicious. The whole process takes under an hour, and by the time the brine cools and the onions turn that gorgeous deep pink, you'll already be thinking about what to pile them on first. Tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, roasted vegetables — honestly, the list is hard to stop writing.
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
- 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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!