Quick Pickled Vegetables (One Pot)

The best quick and easy pickled vegetables recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in one pot over stovetop in 20 minutes. Loaded with vegetables, fresh herbs, spices, and simple vinegar brine.

One of the best ways to use up Summer veggies is either in this Oven Roasted Sausage and Vegetables (One Pan) or this Easy Vegetable Soup (One Pot) or obviously today's recipe, which can be stored for months!

The pickling method below is the simple quick and easy refrigerator method that requires no canner or hot water baths. However, I have included canning instructions below, if you want to do that for longer storage.

How to pickle vegetables? How to make pickled vegetables?

1. Prepare vegetables- Wash them and chop them and fill them in mason jars.
2. Add herbs and spices- Divide them evenly in 2 jars.
3. Prepare brine- Bring water, vinegar, sugar, salt to boil and pour in jars.
4. Seal jars- Make sure they are sealed tightly.
5. Chill- Once they cool down completely, chill in the fridge.
6. Enjoy- Can be enjoyed after 24 hours but will taste better after a few days.

What vegetables are good for pickling?

There are so many choices. You can pickle just one vegetable or a variety of them together:

• Cucumbers
• Radishes
• Turnips
• Carrots
• Asparagus
• Green beans
• Jalapeno
• Onions (Especially red onions)
• Cauliflower
• Peppers
• Tomatoes (Especially cherry tomatoes and green tomatoes)
• Garlic
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Brussel sprouts
• Okra

What to serve with pickled vegetables?

They are usually served as a topping or condiment in sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, tacos.

You can also serve it as an appetizer on a charcuterie board. You can also serve it as a crunchy vinegary side dish with dinner, especially pizza.

How do you you keep pickled vegetables crisp?

The crisp texture is majorly dependent on the vegetables that you used. If you like the crispy, crunchy texture, use vegetables that are on the harder side in texture such as cauliflower, turnips, radishes, carrots, cucumbers e.t.c.

Avoid softer vegetables such as peppers, onions, okra e.t.c.

Also, the longer the vegetables sit in the brine the softer and tender they will get but they will also get more flavorful.

Are pickles a vegetable or fruit?

That depends on the ingredients that are used. They are typically made with vegetables. Cucumbers are a very popular choice in vegetables.

However, some fruits such as peaches, pears, grapes, figs, tomatoes, lemons, pineapples can also be used.

What is pickling?

Pickling is the process of preserving food in a vinegar brine, which alters the food's texture, making it soft and tender. It also alters taste and flavor by making it more sweet and tangy.

In some cultures, an oil-based vinaigrette is also used for pickling.

Fruits, vegetables and even some meats, fish, dairy and eggs can all be pickled.

How to can pickles?

For long-term storage, canning is the best option.

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Sterilize two mason jars and their lids.
3. Fill the jars with vegetables.
4. Pour hot brine over them, leaving ½ inch space on top.
5. Remove air bubbles by gently tapping the jars against the counter a few times.
6. Place lids over the jars and screw on the rings until tight.  
7. This is something my Mom does: Place these jars in a boiling pot of water to can them. It takes about 5 minutes. Make sure the lids pop down. 

Tips and Techniques

Adjust amount of spices- Use your favorite blend of herbs and spices and since this recipe is so versatile, adjust quantities, based on your own preference.

Make it spicy- By adding more red chili flakes, jalapenos or green chillies.

Adjust sweetness- The sweetness in this recipe comes from granulated sugar. Add more or less, based on how sweet you like your pickled. Brown sugar can also be used as a sweetener but I don't like the color it adds to the brine.

Use vegetables of your choice- The recipe below includes all the vegetables that my likes but you can use any combination of veggies you like. You can also just use one variety too such as just cucumber or just carrots e.t.c.

Pack vegetables in jars- Make sure each jar is loaded with veggies.

What type of vinegar to use? White wine, red wine, rice wine, apple cider or a combination of multiple different vinegars.

What herbs and spices to use? The sky is the limit here. Use ginger, garlic, red chili flakes, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves and any fresh herbs you like such as dill, parsley, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage.

Flavor deepens the longer it sits- The veggies need to sit in the brine for a few hours to really allow the flavor to develop.

Refrigerate pickles once they fully cool down- Don't refrigerate warm pickles. They must come down to room temperature first. If you place the hot glass jar in the fridge, it might crack! 

Halve or double this recipe- Just reduce all the ingredients or double all the ingredients, based on how much pickles you want to make.

Use other spices and herbs- Pickling doesn’t have to mean Kosher dills! Get creative and use Mexican taco seasoning or Indian seasoning (like curry powder or garam masala) or Jamaican jerk seasoning, Italian seasoning blend and even Asian seasoning or Mediterranean seasoning.

More Condiments

• Homemade Cranberry Sauce (One Pot)
• Easy Cranberry Relish (One Bowl)

Recipe

Happy cooking everyone!