Quick & Tangy Japanese Pickled Onions Recipe

One of my flavor boosters is Japanese Pickled Onions. They are very easy to make, have a zingy crunch to just about everything, and they keep for weeks in the fridge. I make a small batch most of the time and add them to rice bowls, grilled meats, and avocado toasts. The best part? Just a few ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on time.

What Are Japanese Pickled Onions?

Japanese Pickled Onions are formed as thin slices of onions marinated in a tangy-sweet vinegar mixture, mixed with soy sauce, mirin, or ginger; a little tantan. They aren’t as pungent as raw onions, nor are they overly sweet: just savory, tart, and umami-rich all at once. Think of them like the last little bite that makes your dish something it never knew it needed.

Ingredients

For the onions:

• 1 large red onion or yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp salt

Pickling liquid:

• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin (or 1/2 tbsp sugar if you don’t have mirin)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 small slice of fresh ginger (optional)
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional, for heat)

Make Japanese Pickled Onions

1. Prepare the onions
2. Cut the onion nearly paper-thin. Toss in salt and allow to sit for 5 minutes. It helps to pull moisture out and soften those sharp bites.
3. Boil the pickling liquid
4. In a small pot, mix rice vinegar, soy sauce, mirin (or sugar), water, and sugar. Toss in ginger and chili flakes if using. Bring to a light simmer until the sugar.
5. Rinse and pack the onions
6. In a clean jar, wash the salt-holding onions in cold water and drain well.
7. Pour and chill
8. Pour hot pickling liquid over onions, cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate.
9. Let it sit
10. Give it at least 1 hour before eating, but it’s even better after 24 hours.

Storage Tips

• Keep refrigerated in the sealed jar.
• Stays fresh for up to 2 weeks.
• Use a clean fork to avoid contamination.

Serving Suggestions

• Top on sushi bowls or poke bowls
• Layer in sandwiches or wraps
• Good with grilled fish or tofu.
• Fantastic on potato and noodle salads.

Pro Tips & Variations

• Red onions for a nice colour!
• You can add some minced garlic or grated yuzu peel for an interesting aroma.
• Want it sweeter? Add 1 tsp of sugar.
• Omit the chili flakes if you want it mild.

FAQs

Can I use white vinegar instead of rice vinegar?

You could, but it’s sharper, so you’ll want to add more sugar.

Are Japanese Pickled Onions spicy?

Not by default, but you can add chili flakes to them or fresh chili for a kick.

Can I make it sugar-free?

You could skip the sugar, but they will end up being much more tart. Use a natural sweetener instead, such as monk fruit.

Is it possible to make it gluten-free?

You can substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free.

Try It!

These Japanese Pickled Onions are seriously something you will be reaching for far and wide once you get to trying them. Easy, bright, and truly something unique. Go ahead—make a jar and see how many dishes you start adding them to!

Happy pickling!