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Mexican Pickled Onions, Pink or Spicy
In Mexican cuisine we like to use garnishes like Mexican pickled onions. This can be made with white onion or with purple onion. You can also find them with habanero peppers or with chopped serrano peppers. Or just plain with no spice but a lot of flavor.
Pink Mexican Pickled Onions are a Classic Garnish for Cochinita Pibil
Making the Mexican pickled onions is very easy, the hardest part is the slicing of the inions as you will need to slice thinly and use 2-3 onions. Sometimes more depending of the number of guests sitting at the table. Everyone loves the pickled onions so we need to make sure to have enough for everyone.
Spicy Habanero Pickled Onions
The pickled onions are perfect garnish for dishes like the Yucatan Pork Loin Pibil. Any pibil dish includes a side of pickled onions as it provides another layer of flavor to brighten up the bite. Yucatan cuisine is diverse and pickling is part of the techniques they use for adding flavor and for preservation.
Watch the videos to see how easy it is to make this pickled onions!
When making pork tacos or pibil is important to know how to make the pickled onions to give the authentic experience. A pibil dish with no pickled onions it is just not complete.
Pickled onions when adding habaneros or serrano peppers are also great pairing for other dishes. Such as grilled meat tacos, tostadas, salmon, white fish, shrimp and so much more. That is why today I am showing you both options.
The pink pickled onions those get that color naturally as the main ingredients are purple onions. This pink onions add a nice presentation while adding flavor and balancing a dish. Pickled garnishes help to brighten up the meal too. And help cut through any heaviness. That is why are added to fatty meats to make the bite more pleasant and light.
I invite you to try my recipe for pickled onions, simple and ready in no time. Everyone has their own technique. I am making them following my mom’s recipe.
Mexican Pickled Onions Two Ways. One Pink and one Spicy Habanero
Mexican Pickled Onions
Ingredients
For the Pink Pickled Onions
- 1 purple onion sliced thinly
- 1 teaspoon pink salt
- 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon sazon latino has cumin, salt, and oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups warm water
For the white onion habanero version
- 1 white onion sliced thinly
- 1 habanero chopped and seeded
- 1 lime
- 1 cup vinegar white or for pickling
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon sea salt or pickling salt
- 2 cups warm water
Instructions
- Cut the onions thinly and add to a bowl.
- Season with the lime juice and the spices.
- Add the vinegar and the warm water.
- Place inside a mason jar and keep refrigerated.
Video
Nutrition
I had no idea pickled onions were do commonly used. This is very interesting and actually sounds delicious too!
Gotta love an easy recipe. I need to make these. Looks great.
I have never pickled anything but I would be interesting in trying these. Such a different idea and sounds like a good topping for taco’s.
I’ve never heard of Mexican pickled onions before but they sure do sound delicious! I am a huge taco lover and I think these would be such a wonderful addition.
I’ve never tried these before, but they look easy to make! My mom loves anything with onions, I should make it for her.
This is such an awesome recipe! I’ve never heard of pickled onions before.
Yum! I cannot wait to make some of these! Pinned this to try!!
I’ve never made pickled onions before. It’s really amazing and it would be so nice to give this one a try! Thanks for the recipe!
I love pickled onions at Mexican restaurants. I never knew how to make them before. Thanks for the great recipe.
I have never heard about this dish but its looks really awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Hola, Adriana!
I’m a Mexican blogger and I have included a couple of your recipes and linked back to your site in my latest post, a Day of the Dead recipe roundup. I hope you can take a look. 🙂
-Fabiola
Hola paisana! Many thanks for supporting my work. I have followed all your social media accounts and have left a comment or two on your postings in your site. Nice we could connect. Un abrazo afectuoso!
I don’t know that I’ve had pickled onions. Sounds interesting. My step-mom used to work for El Torito, so I’m sure I’ve had lots of opportunity. I guess I just didn’t know what I was missing. 🙂
I had no idea how easy these were to make! I love it when I go out to eat and there are pickled onions like this as a beautiful garnish.
I think I love everything about this post. The recipe, the pictures, the story, the culture … yeah, sign me up as a fan!! LOL I’ve made refrigerator pickled onions before, but this looks like a recipe I’m putting on my Have To Make list!
I didn’t realize how quickly you could pickle, and what all you could pickle until I started watching Food Networks, Chopped. My kids will eat just about anything pickled. These onions sound lovely.
I fell in love with pickled onions when I tried the Porto’s sandwich. These made the sandwich incredibly tasty and I actually craved for more.
We are Mexican food lovers here. My husband’s grandparents were from England, and pickled onions were something they would enjoy. Although made differently than this, I know he would love these too.
I made pickled onions once. They are super yummy. I haven’t made them in a long time, so I think I’ll have to try your recipe.
I love pickled onions.! I can just eat them out of the jar on it’s own. I love how easy this is. Looks so great.
I love pickled onions on anything and everything. Love both the recipes that you have and I really need to try the habanero pickled onions.
I love this idea…pickled onions are great with so many dishes. Definitely giving this a try!
my husband loves onions! I should try this
I have seen other recipes of pickled onions with sugar and vinegar, your Mexican spiced pickled onions not only sounds delicious but also satisfy my taste buds as it has spiciness.
We love onions!! Any way we can get them. I can’t believe there are people who don’t like them. I can’t wait to try the pickled version. They sound delicious and would be perfect along any sandwich.
I absolutely love pickled onions like this! It’s hard to find good Mexican food in London, so I’ll be making this at home!
Hello! I was wondering what is inside of the “sazon Latino”? I clicked the link, but it took me to another page with different recipes. I wanted to know what seasonings to buy so I can try out your recipe. 🙂 <3 Thank you ~ !
Hi there, thanks for your note. Sazon latino is also called sazon complete a combination of oregano, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. The brand I buy is Badia at Walmart. Or you can buy on Amazon too here is the link > http://amzn.to/2Coznwt
What is Sazon Latino?
It is a condiment that you can buy in Hispanic stores or at Walmart where the latin products are sold. The condiment has garlic, cumin, black pepper and sal. Or you can buy on Amazon > http://amzn.to/2red9wv the brand I use is Badia
I have been looking for a good pickled onion recipe for so long, which i can actually make in home. You got me exactly what I needed. now I can have an awesome dinner, with this. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi! Could you please post the recipe for Spicy Habanero Pickled Onions? They look delicious and I’m anxious to make them! When I click on the picture it takes me to a 404 page and the video only lists the ingredients but not the measurements. I’ve got my onions sliced and ready to go!
Hi Christy, the information on quantities and measurements is on the recipe card. Thanks for stopping by indeed this pickled onions are easy and so tasty.