Hanh Dam Vietnamese Pickled Onions
Transform your meals with the tangy-sweet delight of Hanh Dam, traditional Vietnamese pickled onions. This quick and easy recipe combines crunchy white pearl onions with a perfectly balanced brine of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, infused with subtle aromatics like optional red chili peppers for heat and star anise for a hint of spice. In just 20 minutes of prep and a few days of pickling, you’ll have a versatile condiment that complements everything from rice dishes to grilled meats, adding a zesty punch to your favorite Vietnamese-inspired meals. Perfect for elevating your culinary repertoire, these crisp, flavorful pickled onions are a must-try for fans of bold yet simple recipes.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams small white pearl onions
- 500 milliliters water
- 250 milliliters rice vinegar
- 100 grams granulated sugar
- 15 grams salt
- 2 pieces fresh red chili peppers (optional, sliced)
- 2 pieces star anise (optional)
Instructions
Peel the pearl onions. To make peeling easier, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer immediately to ice water. Use your fingers or a paring knife to remove the skins.
In a medium saucepan, combine water, rice vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and optional star anise. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from heat and let the brine cool to room temperature.
Pack the peeled onions into a clean glass jar, leaving a little space at the top to ensure the brine can fully cover the onions.
If desired, add sliced red chili peppers for a slight kick of heat.
Pour the cooled brine over the onions, making sure they are completely submerged. Use a weight or a small piece of parchment paper to keep the onions pressed down if needed.
Seal the jar with a lid and let the onions pickle at room temperature for 24 hours. After that, transfer the jar to the refrigerator.
The pickled onions will be ready to enjoy after another 2-3 days in the fridge. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks for the best flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
639 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 2.4 g | 3% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.7 g | 3% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 5950 mg | 259% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 156.4 g | 57% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 11.9 g | 42% | |
| Total Sugars | 123.4 g | ||
| Protein | 8.1 g | 16% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 183 mg | 14% | |
| Iron | 2.5 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 1069 mg | 23% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
