BHA & BHT Free Apple-Cinnamon Quick-Pickled Vegetable Medley
Crisp cabbage, sweet apple matchsticks, and peppery radishes come together in a warmly spiced brine that makes this quick pickle genuinely hard to stop eating. The real magic is in the homemade brine — apple cider vinegar, honey, Ceylon cinnamon, fresh ginger, and turmeric — because every single ingredient is something you can see and verify yourself, with no synthetic preservatives hiding in the mix. That matters a lot when you're trying to avoid BHA and BHT, since those additives turn up in all kinds of store-bought pickles and condiments without much fanfare on the label. Making the brine from scratch takes only a few minutes on the stovetop, and the result is a bright, aromatic liquid that smells incredible the moment it starts to simmer. A quick salt-and-squeeze step draws out excess moisture so the vegetables stay pleasantly crisp even after they soak up all that flavor. After less than an hour in the fridge, you've got a tangy, lightly sweet condiment that works beautifully alongside grain bowls, sandwiches, tacos, or anything that needs a little lift. Scatter some fresh parsley on top before serving and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the vegetables
- 2 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and julienned or coarsely grated
- 6 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 small apple, cored and cut into thin matchsticks
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
For the brine
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the shredded cabbage, carrots, radishes, and apple in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with the fine sea salt and toss well, then set aside for 10 minutes while you prepare the brine — the salt will begin to draw out moisture and soften the vegetables.
- 2
Combine the apple cider vinegar, water, honey, Ceylon cinnamon stick, grated ginger, and ground turmeric in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey dissolves, then bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes, until fragrant.
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