Description
Crisp, tangy homemade refrigerator pickled vegetables bring garden-fresh flavors to your plate with minimal effort. Quick pickling offers a zesty, crunchy side dish that elevates meals with colorful, homemade charm you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, cucumber)
- 1 red onion
Brine:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
Spices and Herbs:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp dill seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly sanitize a large glass jar or multiple mason jars to ensure a clean pickling environment.
- Slice all vegetables into uniform, bite-sized pieces to promote even pickling and attractive presentation.
- Peel and crush garlic cloves to release their robust aromatic compounds.
- Combine white vinegar, water, and kosher salt in a saucepan, heating the mixture until salt completely dissolves and liquid reaches a gentle simmer.
- Add dill seeds, black peppercorns, bay leaf, and mustard seeds to the hot brine, allowing the spices to infuse their complex flavors.
- Layer the prepared vegetables tightly into the sterilized jar, alternating types to create a visually appealing and texturally diverse pickle.
- Carefully pour the hot, spice-infused brine over the vegetables, ensuring complete coverage and leaving a small headspace at the top.
- Allow the pickled vegetables to cool to room temperature for approximately 30 minutes.
- Seal the jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for at least 24 hours to develop deep, tangy flavors.
- Consume within 2 weeks for optimal crispness and taste, storing continuously in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Customize vegetable selection based on seasonal availability and personal preference for maximum flavor variety.
- Use crisp, firm vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers to maintain excellent texture during pickling process.
- Experiment with additional spices like red pepper flakes or fresh herbs to create unique flavor profiles matching your taste preferences.
- Opt for non-reactive glass containers to prevent chemical interactions that might alter pickle taste and quality.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Pickling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 30
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg