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Sweet Pickled Onions

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These tangy and sweet pickled onions are the perfect side dish to add a pop of flavor to your next meal. Just a few pantry staples and in no time you’ve got yourself a delicious condiment.

mason jar of pickled onions

Transform a pungent, strong, sharp tasting onion into a deliciously tangy and sweet treat. And best of all, this pickled onion recipe only calls for a few pantry staples.

Ahh quick pickled onions. The ever so popular local condiment that goes so well with so many dishes. Serve it alongside kalbi or pūlehu steak, and even atop a teriyaki burger.

Or you can eat it by itself. It’s that yummy.

chopsticks picking up sweet pickled onions

Sweet pickled onions recipe ingredients

  • Granulated sugar. I like my pickled onions on the sweeter side. Feel free to cut back on the sugar if you don’t want it as sweet. You can also  swap this out for honey or maple sugar.
  • White vinegar. White or red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar can be used here as well
  • Water.
  • Hawaiian salt. This is a larger, more coarse grain of salt and can be found at most local grocery stores in Hawai’i or online. Don’t have Hawaiian salt? Opt for kosher salt or coarse pink Himalayan salt
  • Sweet Maui onions. These are sweet onions that lack sulfur that typically gives onions a pungent taste and smell. Red onions or Walla walla onions can be used as an alternative.
pickled onions ingredients

Variations

  • Spicy. Add in some Hawaiian chili peppers for an added punch of spice.
  • More layers of flavors. Add some garlic, peppercorns, and ogo (seaweed).

What is pickling?

Pickling is a process that uses immersion in either a brine or vinegar solution to extend the shelf life of foods by lowering the pH and killing most bacteria.

How to store pickled onions?

Airtight containers work well to store pickled onions. I like to use glass mason jars. These are best kept in the refrigerator.

top down view of mason jar with sweet pickled onions

How long will it last?

Sweet pickled onions stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator will keep for a few weeks. Be sure to use clean utensils when taking some of the onions out to eat. 

Can you freeze pickled onions?

While pickled onions are okay to freeze, I prefer to freeze the onions prior to pickling and pickle when ready to eat.

mason jar of sweet pickled onions

Other great dishes to serve alongside sweet pickled onions

How to make sweet pickled onions?

  1. Place sugar, vinegar, water, and Hawaiian salt into a saucepan set over high heat. Bring to a boil and heat through until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Set this aside to cool slightly.
  2. Thinly slice onions and place into a jar or container.
  3. Pour the pickling liquid over the onions until completely submerged. Allow to cool at room temperature.
  4. Place the lid on and store in the refrigerator. ENJOY!
mason jar of sweet pickled onions

Sweet Pickled Onions

Relle Lum
These tangy and sweet pickled onions are the perfect side dish to add a pop of flavor to your next meal. Just a few pantry staples and you’ve got yourself a delicious condiment.
4.60 from 40 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizers
Cuisine Local
Servings 2 cups
Calories 277 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Place sugar, vinegar, water, and Hawaiian salt into a saucepan set over high heat. Bring to a boil and heat through until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Set this aside to cool slightly.
  • Thinly slice onions and place into a jar or container.
  • Pour the pickling liquid over the onions until completely submerged. Allow to cool at room temperature.
  • Place the lid on and store in the refrigerator. ENJOY!

Notes

*Sweet Maui onions are a great choice of onions for this recipe.
*You can also use red onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 2gSodium: 3986mgFiber: 2gSugar: 61g
Keyword appetizer, easy pickled onions, easy recipes, hawaiian pickled onions, keeping it relle, pickled onions, pickled onions recipe, side dish, sweet pickled onions recipe, sweet pickled pickled onions
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sweet pickled onions

By on August 22nd, 2021

About Relle

Aloha, my name is Relle and welcome to my little home on the internet where I like to share all my favorite Hawaiian recipes (and local ones too).

I am a wife, mom of two, and nurse practitioner here in the beautiful state of Hawai’i. I was born and raised in Hawai’i and I am of native Hawaiian descent. In my spare time I love to cook and bake and I have compiled many of my favorite recipes here for you to enjoy.

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6 thoughts on “Sweet Pickled Onions”

  1. 5 stars
    So good! I love pickled onions and have only done it with red onions , previously. Sweet o ions are spectacular like this! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  2. Thank you for your recipe! Iʻve made and seen all versions of it but I like yours the most. Simple! The ratios of everything is perfect. I used 2 cups per 64 oz. mason jar. Had to fill up 8 bottles total. I took you 3x recipe adjusted it to fill 8/64 oz. bottles. Perfect. Mahalo!

    Admin. of ʻOno Kine Recipes

    Reply

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