Description
Mary Berry’s pickled onions offer a tangy British twist to classic condiments. Crisp pearl onions marinate in a zingy vinegar blend, creating a perfect accompaniment for cheeses, cold meats, and sandwiches you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 small red onions
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) white vinegar
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) water
- ⅓ cup (80 ml / 2.7 fl oz) cane sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml / 1 fl oz) sea salt
- 1 clove garlic (optional)
- 1 tsp peppercorns (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Use a sharp knife or mandoline to slice red onions into uniform, translucent rounds, ensuring consistent thickness for optimal pickling.
- Container Setup: Distribute the delicate onion slices evenly in clean glass jars, creating layers that will absorb the aromatic brine.
- Brine Creation: In a medium saucepan, blend white vinegar, filtered water, granulated sugar, and kosher salt. Heat the mixture over medium flame, stirring until sugar and salt dissolve completely, roughly 45-60 seconds.
- Liquid Infusion: Remove the brine from heat and allow it to cool momentarily. Carefully pour the warm liquid over the onion slices, guaranteeing complete submersion.
- Resting Period: Let the jars settle at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, enabling the onions to soften and absorb the vibrant pickling essence.
- Refrigeration and Maturation: Seal the containers and transfer to the refrigerator. The onions will transform into a bright pink, tender condiment within 1-2 hours for ultra-thin slices or overnight for thicker cuts.
- Storage and Consumption: Preserve the pickled onions at 40°F (4°C) or below, consuming within 10-14 days to maintain optimal flavor and crispness.
Notes
- Master Slicing Technique: Use a sharp mandoline or knife to create consistently thin onion rounds, ensuring even pickling and perfect texture.
- Brine Chemistry: Heat vinegar mixture just until sugar and salt dissolve, avoiding over-boiling to maintain the delicate flavor profile and prevent onion toughness.
- Cooling Critical: Allow brine to cool slightly before pouring over onions to prevent wilting and preserve their crisp, fresh texture.
- Storage Savvy: Refrigerate pickled onions and consume within 10-14 days, keeping them at 40°F or below to maintain maximum flavor and crispness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: UK
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg