Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos, upgrade your taco night with the vibrant tang and crunch of quick-pickled red onions! This simple recipe transforms ordinary onions into a zesty topping that adds a whole new dimension to your favorite Mexican tacos, sandwich or burgers.
This incredibly easy recipe takes just minutes to prepare and delivers a burst of flavor that will have you reaching for more of your favorite tacos. But that's not all! This easy recipe adds a delicious punch to everything from salads and sandwiches to grilled meats.
You will also like Pintxos Spanish Tapas, Papas Arrugadas with Mojo Sauce, Chicken Skewers and Chicken One-Pot Rice.
Jump to:
- ⭐Why You'll Love This Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
- 🧾Ingredients Needed & Substitutions
- 📖Variations of Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
- 👩🏻🍳How to Make Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
- 🔪Kitchen Tools Required
- ❄️How to Store and Serve
- 💭Tips for Making Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
- ❓Frequently Asked Questions for Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
- 🍛More Appetizer Recipes!
- 🎥Watch my Videos
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
⭐Why You'll Love This Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
This quick Pickled Red Onion recipe is a delightful addition to your Mexican tacos or dish, bringing a burst of flavor, color, and texture that enhances the overall taco experience.
Here are a few reasons to fall in love with this recipe:
- Speedy Preparation: This recipe is quick and easy to make, allowing you to whip up flavorful pickled red onions in no time, adding a vibrant element to your dish.
- Bold and Tangy Flavor: The pickling process infuses the red onions with a bold and tangy flavor, elevating their taste and adding a zesty kick to your dishes.
- Refreshing and Crisp Texture: The pickling process gives the red onions a refreshing and crisp texture, adding a delightful crunch to your dishes.
- Customizable Ingredients: This recipe allows for customization, so you can adjust the level of sweetness, tanginess, or spiciness according to your personal preferences.
- Vibrant Appearance: The bright pink color of the pickled red onions adds a visually appealing and appetizing element to your plate, enhancing the overall presentation of your meals.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: You can prepare these pickled red onions in advance and store them, offering a time-saving option for meal planning and ensuring you always have a flavorful condiment on hand.
- Long Shelf Life: With their pickling process, these onions have a longer shelf life, allowing you to enjoy their tangy goodness over an extended period.
- Enhances Everyday Meals: Whether you're preparing a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend barbecue, these pickled red onions can effortlessly elevate the flavor profile of your everyday meals.
- Versatile Use: These pickled red onions can complement a wide range of dishes, from tacos and salads to sandwiches and grilled meats, providing a versatile condiment for various meals.
If you want more appetizers you should check out Bubble Potato Pillows and Korean Fried Chicken.
🧾Ingredients Needed & Substitutions
Ingredients for this Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos are simple. Each ingredient in this recipe contributes specific flavors, textures, and elements to create a well-balanced and delicious dish.
Here is a list of everything you need and a breakdown of what each ingredient provides:
- Red Onions: Provide a distinct onion flavor and a crisp, crunchy texture. The red color adds vibrancy to the dish.
- Water: Is the base of the pickling liquid. It helps dilute the acidity of vinegar, providing the right balance for the pickling process.
- White Vinegar: Contributes acidity to the pickling liquid, which is crucial for the pickling process. It imparts a tangy flavor to the onions and acts as a preservative.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to the pickling liquid, balancing the sharpness of the vinegar and providing a well-rounded flavor profile to the pickled red onions.
- Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the red onions and acts as a preservative. It helps draw out moisture from the onions, contributing to their crisp texture.
In summary, the red onions are the main ingredient, providing flavor and texture, while water serves as the liquid base. White vinegar adds acidity and tanginess, sugar brings sweetness for balance, and salt enhances flavors and aids in preservation. Together, these ingredients create a well-balanced and flavorful pickled red onion condiment.
Substituting ingredients in this recipe can be done based on personal preferences or dietary restrictions.
Here are some potential substitutions for the Pickled Red Onion ingredients:
- Red Onions: You can use other types of onions like white onions, yellow onions, or shallots for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Water: You can substitute water with apple juice, white wine, or a mild-flavored vegetable or chicken broth for added complexity.
- White Vinegar: You can use other types of vinegar such as apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or rice vinegar. Each will impart a unique flavor to the pickled onions.
- Sugar: You can replace sugar with honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar substitute. Adjust the quantity based on your desired level of sweetness.
- Salt: You can use alternative salts like kosher salt or sea salt. Additionally, soy sauce or tamari can be used to add a different savory depth.
Remember to taste and adjust as you go when making substitutions to achieve the desired flavor and balance in your pickled red onions.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
📖Variations of Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
Numerous creative variations of Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos can add exciting twists to this pickled and accommodate a range of tastes and nutritional requirements.
Here are some variations and creative twists for a quick Pickled Red Onion recipe:
- Spicy Pickled Red Onions: Include sliced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the pickling liquid for a spicy kick.
- Smoky Chipotle Pickled Red Onions: Add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
- Citrus-Infused Pickled Red Onions: Include citrus zest (orange, lime, or lemon) for a bright and citrusy flavor.
- Garlic Lovers Pickled Red Onions: Add minced garlic cloves to the pickling liquid for a robust garlic flavor.
- Herb-Infused Pickled Red Onions: Infuse the pickling liquid with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or dill for added fragrance.
- Pickled Red Onions with Cumin: Include ground cumin or toasted cumin seeds for an earthy and warm undertone.
- Pickled Red Onions with Whole Spices: Include whole spices such as coriander seeds, mustard seeds, or peppercorns for extra complexity.
- Balsamic Pickled Red Onions: Replace white vinegar with balsamic vinegar for a sweeter and richer flavor.
- Pickled Red Onions with Honey: Replace sugar with honey for a natural sweetness and a distinct flavor.
- Pickled Red Onions with Honey and Mustard: Combine honey and Dijon mustard in the pickling liquid for a sweet and tangy profile.
- Asian-Inspired Pickled Red Onions: Include soy sauce, ginger, and a touch of rice vinegar for an Asian twist.
- Mango Habanero Pickled Red Onions: Add diced mango and finely chopped habanero for a sweet and spicy combination.
Feel free to mix and match these variations to create your own unique and flavorful quick-pickled red onions. Adjust the quantities based on your taste preferences for sweetness, acidity, and spiciness.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Slice the red onions thinly and arrange them neatly within a jar.
2. Combine equal amounts of water and white vinegar into the jar.
3. Transfer the contents of the jar into a saucepan.
4. Combine the onion mixture with sugar and salt, stirring over medium heat for 2 minutes until fully dissolved.
5. Transfer the onion mixture into a jar, making sure the onions are fully immersed in the liquid.
6. Place a cover on the jar and allow it to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes. For a richer flavor, refrigerate the mixture.
🔪Kitchen Tools Required
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Here is a list of kitchen utensils for making this Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos:
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Jug
- Saucepan
- Small Bowl
- Spatula
❄️How to Store and Serve
Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored with some precautions to maintain its texture and flavor.
Storing and serving Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos requires a few specific steps to ensure that the dish maintains its quality.
Here are some guidelines:
Storing:
- Refrigeration: Store pickled red onions in a sealed container or glass jar in the refrigerator.
- Pickling Liquid Cover: Ensure the pickling liquid completely covers the onions to maintain their quality. Top up with additional liquid if needed.
- Seal Properly: Seal the container tightly to prevent the onions from absorbing odors from the refrigerator.
- Shelf Life: Pickled red onions can typically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.
Serving:
- Tacos and Burritos: Top your favorite tacos, burritos, or quesadillas with pickled red onions for a burst of tangy flavor and vibrant color.
- Seafood Tacos or Ceviche: Enhance the flavor of seafood tacos or ceviche by adding pickled red onions as a garnish.
- Burgers and Sandwiches: Elevate the taste of burgers, sandwiches, and sliders by adding a generous portion of pickled red onions as a zesty topping.
- Wraps and Gyros: Incorporate pickled red onions into wraps, gyros, or falafel sandwiches for an extra layer of flavor.
- Avocado Toast: Spread pickled red onions over avocado toast for a delightful combination of creamy, crunchy, and tangy textures.
- Salads: Toss pickled red onions into salads for a refreshing and tangy element. They work particularly well in green salads, grain salads, or pasta salads.
- Grilled Meats and Seafood: Use pickled red onions as a flavorful garnish for grilled chicken, steak, fish, or shrimp. The acidity cuts through the richness of the proteins.
- Barbecue and Pulled Pork: Pair pickled red onions with barbecue dishes or pulled pork sandwiches to add brightness and contrast to the savory flavors.
- Grain Bowls: Incorporate pickled red onions into grain bowls or Buddha bowls for added flavor and a pop of color.
💭Tips for Making Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
Here are some tips to help you make Quick-Pickled Red Onions successfully:
Choose Fresh Onions: Use fresh, firm red onions for the best texture and flavor in your pickles.
Thin and Uniform Slicing: Slice the onions thinly and uniformly to ensure even pickling. A sharp knife or mandoline can help achieve consistent slices.
Use Hot Pickling Liquid: Heat the pickling liquid until the sugar is dissolved.
Dissolve Sugar and Salt: Make sure the sugar and salt are completely dissolved in the pickling liquid to prevent graininess.
Use a Glass or Non-Reactive Container: When storing the pickled red onions, use a glass or non-reactive container to avoid any metallic taste.
Let Them Rest: Let the pickled red onions sit at room temperature for a short period before transferring them to the refrigerator. This helps them absorb the flavors.
Refrigerate Promptly: Once the pickling process is complete, refrigerate the onions promptly to maintain their crisp texture and flavor.
Label and Date: Label the container with the date of preparation to keep track of freshness.
By following these tips, you'll be on your way to making delicious Quick-Pickled Red Onions that add a burst of flavor and color to your favorite dishes.
❓Frequently Asked Questions for Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
Here are some commonly asked questions about making homemade Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos:
Pickled Red Onions typically last for about 2 to 3 weeks when stored in the refrigerator, maintaining their best quality during this period.
Yes, pickled red onions can be a healthy addition to a balanced diet, offering antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, though their healthiness can be influenced by factors like sodium content and overall dietary choices.
The best vinegar for pickling depends on personal preference and the desired flavor profile; however, white distilled vinegar is a versatile and commonly used option for its clear color and strong, sharp taste.
Pickled onions may have anti-inflammatory properties attributed to compounds like quercetin, but their overall impact on inflammation is influenced by factors such as the pickling process and individual dietary choices.
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🎥Watch my Videos
This video will show you the details and step-by-step instructions for making this fantastic Papas Arrugadas with Mojo Sauce!
📖 Recipe
Pickled Red Onion Recipe Quick for Mexican Tacos
Ingredients
For Pickled Red Onion:
- 2 Red Onions
- Water
- White Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Salt
Instructions
How to Make Pickled Red Onion:
- Thinly slice the red onions and place them in a jar.
- Pour equal parts water and white vinegar inside the jar.
- Put all the ingredients inside the jar in a saucepan.
- Add sugar and salt to the onion mixture and stir over medium heat for 2 minutes until dissolved.
- Pour the onion mixture into a jar, ensuring the onions are completely submerged.
- Cover and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, or refrigerate for a more intense flavor.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
Nice idea to make tacos or burgers more delicious