Pickled Red Onion

Pickled red onion is thinly sliced red onion cured in vinegar, salt, and sometimes sugar. It stays crisp-tender with a bright magenta hue and delivers a tangy, lightly sweet bite; it cuts richness and wakes up tacos, sandwiches, salads, and grilled meats. Commonly made as quick pickles at home or sold jarred, they’re typically sliced rings or half-moons.

Onion pickling appears across many cuisines, with notable versions in Mexico’s Yucatán escabeche traditions and throughout the Mediterranean and South Asia. Modern quick-pickle methods spread widely in North America alongside home canning, while commercial processors pack red onions in vinegar brines for distribution.