How to Make Quick Pickled Vegetables

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Quick Pickled Vegetables might just be the best “no nonsense” way to clean out your fridge. They take barely any time, almost no effort, and the payoff is mega. 

What are Quick Pickled Vegetables?

Quick pickles, or refrigerator pickles are the result of vegetables or fruit that have been packed in hot brine and left to sit for at least a few hours in the fridge. They are not fermented, and they don’t cook as much as with traditional canning methods so they retain some good crunch. Quick pickling is a perfect way to go if you have a small amount of veggies to deal with, and when you’re just not interested in setting up an elaborate canning production. Learning how to make quick pickles is also a great way to extend the life of some things in your fridge that are almost on their way to the compost bin.

A healthy convenient snack

I am a lifelong addict of all things sour and salty. It’s so nice to have something pickled in the fridge at all times for instant access to something to wake up my taste buds. I stick them on sandwiches, add them to salads, and snack on them the second I walk in the door. Growing up, I was always munching on dill pickles from the store. I still get store-bought pickles all the time, but there’s something really nice about having your own homemade pickles on hand. 

Pickled veggies are a great thing to eat alongside your otherwise veggie-less dinners. You know those nights when all you want to eat is buttered noodles? A few homemade spicy pickles on the side make you feel virtuous because you know you’re getting some veggies in.

A non-recipe recipe

There are tons of different refrigerator pickle recipes out there, and they vary quite a bit. The truth is though, you don’t really need a recipe. It’s more of a general formula that needs to be followed, and the rest is up to your creativity and your current pantry contents. 

The formula for quick pickle making is simple. There needs to be a good amount of acidity, in the form of vinegar, and a good amount of salt. I go with equal parts vinegar and water, and 1 Tbsp of salt for every cup of vinegar. Everything else beyond that is just extra, however I always add brown sugar to mine because I love how it balances out the sharpness of the vinegar.

Making the pickles – The brine

This is a basic ratio that can be added to and jazzed up in a number of ways.

The basic ratio is:

• 250ml water
• 250ml vinegar – I like malt or apple cider, but other ones work too
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar

Combine these ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil, and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Taste the brine before you pour it over the veggies, to make sure the vinegar sugar ratio is how you want it. If you’re going for more of a bread and butter pickles vibe, you’ll want to add more sugar.

To jazz up the brine: You can add any number of fresh herbs, dried spices, fresh garlic, ginger, pickling spice, mustard seeds, fresh dill, crushed red pepper flakes, and the list goes on. Play around with different combinations to make these pickles your own.
In this batch I used bay leaves, chili flakes, garlic, and rosemary. I also made some spicy refrigerator pickles with a half cauliflower that had been kicking around for awhile.

Selecting and preparing the vegetables for quick pickling

Your veggies can be sliced, diced, quartered, or minced. The smaller you cut them, the more of the brine they will absorb, so keep that in mind. In terms of what veggies to use, it’s really up to you. The rule of thumb is, if you’d be willing to eat it raw, it’s a contender. 

Some good ones to start with:

Green beans, carrot sticks, sliced cucumbers whole asparagus spears, red onions, celery, quartered radishes, sliced beets.

Making the quick pickles

This part is easy. All you have to do is:

1. Stuff the veggies into mason jars – you can pack them pretty tightly because they’ll wilt down slightly.
    
2. Pour the boiling hot brine over the veggies until they are completely covered. It’s your choice if you want to strain the bits out before pouring into the jar.
    
3. Close the lid and let the jar of veggies sit on the counter for 20 minutes or so before popping them in the fridge overnight.

Quick pickles will keep in the fridge for at least a month and probably many months, but it’s very unlikely that they will stick around that long. They’re an addictive little snack!

How to eat your Quick Pickled Vegetables

I love a quick pickle straight from the fridge, no supporting characters required. But they’re also great when chopped up and added to a wrap or sandwich (like my smashed chickpea sandwich), thrown into salads, or enjoyed on the side of a warm cooked dinner—like my easy Black Lentil and Broccoli Curry.

Are you a pickle enthusiast too? I’d love to hear your success stories. I’d also love to hear about your pickling adventures gone wrong. Comment below or join me on Instagram to talk it out!