Nutmeg Free Apple-Cinnamon Quick-Pickled Vegetable Medley
Crisp cabbage, julienned carrots, snappy radishes, and thin apple matchsticks come together in a bright, tangy brine that's as beautiful as it is delicious. The warm apple cider vinegar base gets its depth from a Ceylon cinnamon stick, fresh ginger, and a touch of turmeric — a lineup that delivers real warmth and complexity without a trace of nutmeg anywhere in the pot. That matters more than you might think, since so many spiced pickles and quick-brine recipes lean on nutmeg as a background note, making them off-limits for anyone who needs to avoid it. Here, the ginger brings gentle heat, the cinnamon adds sweetness, and the honey rounds everything out into a brine that feels complete all on its own. The technique is straightforward — salt the vegetables, simmer the brine, pour and press, then let the fridge do the work. What you end up with is a versatile, fridge-ready condiment that's equally at home piled onto tacos, tucked into sandwiches, or served alongside grilled proteins as a punchy little side. Scatter on some fresh parsley right before serving and it looks like something straight off a restaurant plate.
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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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