Asian Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe: Easy Recipe for Asian Pickled Carrots (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to peel carrots before pickling? ›

The first step in making pickling carrots is to wash and peel them. In theory, you could pickle your carrots without peeling them. But unless the carrots are young and small, the skins can taste bitter, so I recommend peeling all but the smallest before pickling.

The flavors will deepen and intensify the longer it marinates. Best flavor is achieved after 24 hours. Will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks (sometimes longer). Not freezer friendly.

To a small saucepan add vinegar of choice, water, salt, and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir to fully dissolve salt and sugar. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt or sugar to taste. Pour the brine over the vegetables, ensuring they are fully submerged.

There are so many ways to serve these carrots, below are a few examples. Salads – add them to any salad, a crispy carrot with some sting adds great texture and taste. Steaks – serve them with grilled meat, in my photo below I served them with a ribeye steak with porcini mushrooms and mashed potatoes. It worked great.

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

No, there are other methods for pickling, including quick pickling and refrigerator pickling. But this pickling method does call for boiling the brine. This process helps bloom the flavors of the ingredients and help speed up the pickling process when it's added to the fresh vegetables or fruit.

Pickling doesn't have to be a long process involving canning and special supplies. If you have vegetables that would be good pickled, like onions, garlic, carrots or green beans, toss them in the jar of leftover pickle juice, and see what happens. They'll make a nice addition to a charcuterie platter or Blood Mary.

Yes, it's perfectly normal for your lacto-fermentation brine to become slightly opaque and whitish. It's not dangerous! Some vegetables, like beans or pickles, will turn the brine white in a few days. This means that the good bacteria are doing their job!

Is it safe to eat pickled goods if they've been opened and left out of the fridge for a few days? It is generally not safe to eat pickled goods that have been left out of the fridge for a few days.

Place the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar (if using) in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Pour the brine over the vegetables, filling each jar to within 1/2 inch of the top. You might not use all the brine.

What is the most important ingredient in pickling vegetables? ›

Vinegar is the most important ingredient in quick-pickle recipes. Without an adequate amount, the pickles will not be safe to eat. Use any vinegar with 5% acidity. Caution: Do not reduce the amount of vinegar or increase the amount of water in a recipe.

The classic ratio is super easy to remember and is easily scale-able depending on how many pickles you're making. It's 100% vinegar, 50% water, 25% sugar and 12.5% kosher salt by weight.

Beyond the classic cucumbers, other fruits and vegetables that work well for pickles include asparagus, beets, bell peppers, blueberries, cauliflower, carrots, cherries, fennel, ginger, grapes, green beans, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peaches, peppers, radishes, ramps, rhubarb, strawberries, squash, tomatoes, turnips, ...

Charcuterie Boards

A charcuterie board with pickles you grew and made is extra impressive. If you don't want to get too involved they're also just a great snack alongside crackers, cheese, fruit, and/or nuts.

Do You Need to Peel Carrots? "There is no need to peel carrots before eating—many people enjoy eating them with the skin on," says Alan Hilowitz, Communications Director at Bolthouse Farms. "However, since carrots are grown in the ground, washing/scrubbing is important if you do choose not to peel," he adds.

And when I need to replenish my refrigerator pickle stash, they are the perfect vehicle. For this recipe, the carrots are peeled, cut into narrow sticks, briefly blanched and then suspended in a simple vinegar pickling solution. They come out tender but with a core that retains some backbone and crispness.

Blanching is the process of partially cooking vegetables in boiling water until they are slightly tender but still hold their crunch, then quickly submerging them in ice water to inhibit further cooking. This process helps to maintain the carrots' vibrant colour throughout pickling.

To keep carrots their freshest and crunchiest, you only need to rethink how you store them. Keep them in an airtight container submerged in water, and you'll be a happy snacker. You can prep the carrots however you'd like, but the best way is to hold off on peeling the skin for the longest storage time.