Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe

Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe

This Quick Pickled Carrots recipe is a tangy and crisp recipe, which calls for cider vinegar and a sweet spice blend. It’s a straightforward recipe, ready to enjoy after chilling.

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Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe Ingredients

  • 3 lb. Fresh Carrots, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick
  • 1/4 Large White Onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups Water
  • 2 cups Cider Vinegar
  • 3 cups Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Whole Yellow Mustard Seeds
  • 1 tsp. Celery Seeds
  • 1 tsp. Whole Coriander Seeds
  • 1 tsp. Turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp. Minced Fresh Ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt

How To Make Quick Pickled Carrots

  1. Blanch the Carrots: Bring a medium-large saucepan half-full of water to a boil. Carefully add the sliced carrots and cook for about 5 minutes, until they are just softened but still crisp. Drain the carrots and transfer them to a large, non-reactive bowl. Add the sliced onion and set aside.
  2. Make the Pickling Brine: In a medium saucepan, combine the water, cider vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, coriander seeds, turmeric, ginger, and salt.
  3. Combine and Cool: Bring the brine to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring to completely dissolve the sugar. Slowly pour the hot liquid over the carrot and onion mixture in the bowl. Let everything cool completely to room temperature.
  4. Jar and Refrigerate: Once cool, divide the carrots and the pickling liquid among 4 to 5 pint-sized jars, leaving about a half-inch of headspace at the top of each jar. Seal the jars tightly with lids and store them in the refrigerator.
Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe
Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe

Recipe Tips

  • How to keep the carrots crisp? The most important tip is to not over-blanch the carrots. As the recipe notes, it is much better to have them slightly too crisp than too soft. The 5-minute blanch is just to tenderize them slightly so they can absorb the brine.
  • Can I use different spices? Absolutely! This is a great base brine. Feel free to add other whole spices like a few black peppercorns, a dried bay leaf, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat.
  • Can I make this with less sugar? You can, but keep in mind that this is a classic “bread and butter” style sweet pickle brine. The sugar is essential for balancing the tartness of the vinegar and also acts as a preservative, helping the pickles last longer in the fridge.
  • What’s the best way to slice the carrots? For perfectly uniform slices that will pickle evenly, a mandoline slicer is the best tool. For a fun, classic look, you can also use a crinkle cutter to create wavy slices.

What To Serve With Pickled Carrots

These sweet and tangy pickled carrots are a fantastic condiment that can brighten up many dishes. Serve them:

  • On sandwiches or burgers for a sweet, crunchy element.
  • As part of a charcuterie or cheese board.
  • As a tangy side dish for rich, savory meals like pot roast or pulled pork.
  • Chopped up and added to salads, like a potato or tuna salad.

How To Store Pickled Carrots

  • Refrigerate: This is a refrigerator pickle recipe and is not shelf-stable. The pickles must be stored in tightly sealed jars in the refrigerator. They will be ready to eat after about 24 hours and will keep for up to one month.

Pickled Carrots Nutrition Facts

  • Serving: ¼ cup
  • Calories: 120 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Fat: 0.5g
  • Sugar: 28g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Are these the same as canned pickles?

No. These are “refrigerator pickles,” which means they are not processed in a water bath canner to be shelf-stable. They are quick and easy to make but must be stored in the refrigerator at all times.

Do I have to blanch the carrots first?

Yes, it is highly recommended. The brief blanching step slightly softens the very hard texture of the raw carrots, which allows them to absorb the flavorful pickling brine much more effectively.

Can I use this brine for other vegetables?

Yes, this sweet and tangy brine is fantastic for other vegetables. It would be delicious with thinly sliced cucumbers, green beans, or even cauliflower florets.

Try More Recipes:

Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe

Recipe by MarryCourse: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

5

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Calories

120

kcal

A quick and easy refrigerator pickle featuring crisp, tender carrots in a sweet and tangy, spiced cider vinegar brine.

Ingredients

  • 3 lb. Carrots, peeled and sliced

  • 1/4 Large White Onion, thinly sliced

  • Brine: 2 cups Water, 2 cups Cider Vinegar, 3 cups Sugar.

  • Spices: 1 tsp each of Mustard Seeds, Celery Seeds, & Coriander Seeds; 1 tsp Turmeric; 1/2 tsp each of Minced Ginger & Kosher Salt.

Directions

  • Blanch the sliced carrots in boiling water for about 5 minutes until just crisp-tender. Drain and place in a large bowl with the sliced onion.
  • In a saucepan, combine all the brine ingredients: water, vinegar, sugar, and all the spices.
  • Bring the brine to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Carefully pour the hot brine over the carrots and onions.
  • Let the mixture cool completely to room temperature.
  • Transfer the carrots and brine to pint jars, seal tightly, and store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Notes

  • The most important tip for this recipe is to not overcook the carrots during the blanching step; you want them to remain crisp.
  • For the best flavor, let the pickles sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before you eat them.
  • This is a refrigerator pickle recipe only and is not suitable for long-term canning storage at room temperature.
  • Be sure to use a non-reactive bowl (like glass or stainless steel) to cool the pickles, as the acidic brine can react with metal bowls like aluminum or copper.

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