Gelatin Free Apple-Cinnamon Quick-Pickled Vegetable Medley
Bright, tangy, and just a little unexpected, this quick-pickled medley brings together crisp cabbage, carrots, radishes, and thin matchsticks of fresh apple in a warmly spiced brine. The combination of apple cider vinegar, honey, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric creates a pickling liquid that smells absolutely incredible as it simmers — floral, earthy, and gently sweet all at once. Many store-bought pickles and condiments sneak in gelatin as a thickener or stabilizer, so making your own from scratch is the cleanest way to know exactly what's in the jar. Here, the brine is entirely plant-based and relies on the natural acidity of vinegar and the gentle heat of spices to do all the work. Salting the vegetables first draws out excess moisture so they absorb the brine more efficiently, giving you that satisfying lightly pickled texture in under an hour. Serve it alongside grilled proteins, pile it onto grain bowls, or use it as a punchy topping for tacos — the fresh parsley finish adds a pop of color that makes it look 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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