Sharing a few simple recipe secrets today: quick pickled onions, a house sauce, and homemade vinaigrette. These three things live in my fridge and elevate everyday meals.
Last week I did an Instagram Live sharing these three recipes I keep on hand at all times. Cooking every meal at home made me realize how much little staples like these improve simple dishes. They’re fast to make, versatile, and keep about a week in the fridge.
All three take only minutes to prepare, and together they’ll take less than thirty minutes to make and store. Use them to brighten tacos, salads, sandwiches, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, breakfast dishes and more.
Quick Pickled Onions
Quick pickled red onions are one of my favorite go-to toppings. They add bright acidity, a touch of sweetness, and great crunch to tacos, salads, sandwiches, grain bowls, and pretty much anything that benefits from raw onion. If a recipe calls for raw red onion (not cooked), try swapping in these pickled onions instead.
How Sweet Eats House Sauce
This creamy sauce is like a kicked-up Chick-fil-A-style sauce. It’s perfect on burgers, chicken, as a dip for fries, or drizzled over roasted vegetables. Sweet, tangy, and savory, it’s a comforting all-purpose condiment.
Serve it with smash burgers, crispy chicken fingers, fries, or anything that needs a flavorful dip or drizzle.
Homemade Vinaigrettes
I’ve long preferred oil-and-vinegar dressings over heavy creamy dressings, so I make simple vinaigrettes often. They take minutes and brighten salads, roasted vegetables, and bowls. The house vinaigrette below is my default, but you can adapt it easily by swapping vinegars, citrus, mustards, or sweeteners.
Some favorite variations include honey mustard vinaigrette, apricot vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, cilantro-lime vinaigrette, spiced orange vinaigrette, dill pickle vinaigrette, and cinnamon-shallot vinaigrette.
These are small, practical tips that make weekday cooking more enjoyable. You can prepare all three and have them ready in your fridge in about half an hour. Enjoy!
Quick Pickled Onions, House Sauce & Homemade Vinaigrette
Three Recipes to Keep In Your Fridge at All Times
4 people
15 mins
15 mins
Ingredients
Quick Pickled Onions
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
How Sweet Eats House Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon your favorite BBQ sauce
House Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Quick Pickled Onions
- Place the sliced onions in a jar or bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk warm water, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Add the apple cider vinegar and whisk to combine. Pour the liquid over the onions. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour, then store sealed in the fridge. They keep about one week.
How Sweet Eats House Sauce
- Whisk all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Use as a dip or drizzle. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
House Vinaigrette
- Whisk together the vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. While whisking, slowly stream in the olive oil until emulsified. Keep refrigerated in a sealed container for about a week.
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Do you have any recipe secrets like these? Share them below!