Mustard Free Pickled Red Onions
Pickled red onions are one of those fridge staples that quietly elevate everything they touch — tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, avocado toast, you name it. The brine here is built from apple cider vinegar, honey, and fine sea salt, with a hit of fresh ginger that gives it a subtle warmth you won't find in most store-bought versions. Store-bought pickled onions can be a minefield for anyone avoiding mustard, since many commercial brines sneak in mustard seed or mustard-based spices without much fanfare on the label. Making them at home with this short, clean ingredient list means you know exactly what's going in the jar. The process is genuinely simple — heat the brine, pour it over tightly packed onion slices, and let time do the rest. Within about 30 minutes in the fridge they turn that gorgeous electric pink and develop a tangy, slightly sweet bite that's completely addictive. Keep a jar on hand 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
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 small garlic clove, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pack the sliced red onion tightly into a clean 16 oz glass jar.
- 2
Combine the apple cider vinegar, water, honey, and fine sea salt in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey and salt are fully dissolved, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat.
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