5 minute Lime Pickled Red Onions

When I realise that I keep referencing something, it's probably a sign that I need to write a post about it. Please welcome on to the stage these 5 minute Lime Pickled Red Onions.

I always have a jar of them in the fridge and they are most certainly one of the most well-loved condiments in our house. And definitely the prettiest …

And let me tell you that these onions are RIDICULOUSLY easy to make. You only need 2 ingredients (yes, really) and about 5 minutes of hands-on time. And did I mention that there is absolutely no cooking involved? These pickled onions are all about big impact, low effort. Seriously.

We are big fans of pickled red onions with everything - and I mean everything! Mexican food is an obvious choice but they are also great for adding an extra boost of tangy, zesty flavour to any savoury dish where you need a little something to take it to the next level. And they can make the most aesthetically mediocre dish look like a colourful work of art.

So how does this quick-pickling work?

Well, under the spell of this quick-pickling magic, the acidity of the lime juice softens the bite and mellows the strength of the red onions to the perfect level of tang and sharpness. And as a bonus, their colour also intensifies so that the onions become a stunning, vibrant shade of pink.

There are other ways to make quick pickled red onions, most of which will involve stages such as either soaking the sliced onion in boiling water or simmering up a pickling liquid but honestly, who has time for that? This much simpler approach is gorgeous and why mess with a straightforward process when it totally does the job.

Here's how I make these 5 minute Lime Pickled Red Onions -

1. Slice up a red onion, very thinly.
2. Stuff the sliced onions into a glass jar with a lid.
3. Squeeze a couple of limes - you need enough juice to barely cover the sliced onion inside the jar.
4. Pour the juice over the onions.
5. Screw on the lid and give it a good shake to be sure that all the slices are submerged in the citrus juice.
6. Leave in the fridge overnight or for a few hours.
7. As the onions sit in the juice, their colour will intensify and in parallel, their flavour intensity will mellow.

Things that I've learned about making these pickled red onions -

• Some red onions are more 'red' than others. The ones that are more white as you reach the centre will still work but the colour won't be as vibrant.
• You can replace limes with lemons if that's what you have available - or indeed mix the two juices together.

• The quantity of ingredients will depend on the size of your jar and how serious your addiction is!
• You will need to adjust the number of limes depending on how juicy they are.
• They keep in the fridge for two weeks.
• If you use a fork to serve yourself from the jar, you can successfully leave behind the majority of the liquid.

How to use these pickled red onions -

These are some of my favourite ways to use these little beauties but I do feel as though hardly a day goes by without us discovering another delicious way to use them -

• Chilli con carne - add them to your spread of toppings alongside sour cream, guacamole, grated cheese, tomatoes, coriander, spring onions
• Tacos - they really have a big impact

• Curries - yum, yum, yum
• Falafel sandwiches - delicious
• Salads - just a few slices sprinkled through an everyday salad is next level

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• Cheese on toast - no explanation required.
• Burgers - I'm especially fond of these onions on a Pork and Apple burger but they would also be gorgeous on a beef or a veggie burger. I often sneak a bit of coleslaw in there as well.
• Bagels - how pretty is this colour combination? It tastes great too.

• Hot Dogs - we had hot dogs for lunch at the weekend with caramelised onions (from the freezer) and a few slices of pickled red onion. Oh how much we oohed and awwed.
• Chicken sandwiches - Hella takes her sandwich construction seriously. This was chicken, guacamole, grated cheese, a few roasted tomatoes and some pickled red onions. It was one of her best apparently.

• An addition to a dinner of leftovers from the fridge - I'm always a fan of a 'leftovers from the fridge dinner' and these pickled red onions are often the ingredient that makes the stars align

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