How to quick pickle vegetables
Everything is better with a pickle ;) These refrigerator quick pickled veggies are great for preserving fresh veggies, adding flavor to your favorite meals, and they're incredibly easy to make at home!
Ingredients
Pickling brine
- 2 3/4 cups filtered water
- 1 1/4 cups white vinegar
- 3 tbsp sweetener, of choice *granulated sugar/sweetener or liquid monk fruit drops
- 2 tsp non iodized salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp peppercorns (optional)
Pickled veggies (feel free to use whatever you want)
- cucumbers, cut into matchsticks
- red onion, thinly sliced
- carrots, cut into matchsticks
- garlic cloves
- jalapeños, thinly siced
- cauliflower florets, chopped small
Other veggies that work great
- asparagus, green beans, beets, radish
Instructions
- Prepare the brine: You can make different brines for different vegetables or mix and match. You'll start by heating the water, vinegar, sweetener, and salt in a small pot on the stove. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
- Prepare your jars: Prepare the veggies you plan on using. Give them a good wash. You'll want to use a glass jar or ceramic vessel. Place the veggies in the jars along with any aromatics you want to use. Carefully pour the vinegar mixture over the veggies, filling the jars. It's okay if you have leftover brine - you can make another jar or just toss it.
- Let the jars come to room temperature, then seal them shut and store in the fridge. Let them marinate for at least an hour before enjoying, to really let them get that pickle flavor!
Video
Notes
- How long do quick pickles last? These last 2-3 weeks in the fridge! Don't keep them longer than that! These are not canned or intended for long-term storage, so if you want them for longer term storage, I would look into canning!
- Do I have to use sugar in quick pickle brine? You don't have to add sugar to the pickle brine, but it does help balance out the flavor. In this recipe, we barely add any, so they do not tasste like sweet pickles! to include sugar in the quick pickle brine, but a small amount of added sugar does improve the overall flavor and balance out the acidity of the vinegars. You can use monk fruit drops as a sugar-free option!
- How to serve/eat pickled veggies? Enjoy them by themselves, use them in salads, on sandwiches, on bowls, as a side to any meal, with fries, on charcuterie boards or snack boards, or even alongside eggs! Pickles even work great on pizza, tacos, and lettuce wraps!
- Do you need to boil vinegar for pickling? You don't have to, however I highly recommend boiling the pickling solution before using it, as it helps the flavors really come alive and blend together nicely.