Carrageenan Free Classic Pickled Vegetables
Crunchy, tangy, and loaded with color, these pickled cucumbers, carrots, and radishes are the kind of fridge staple that makes every meal feel a little more exciting. The brine is a simple mix of white wine vinegar, water, kosher salt, and sugar — nothing mysterious, nothing processed, just clean ingredients you can actually pronounce. Fresh dill, sliced garlic, and black peppercorns bring an herby, aromatic depth that store-bought pickles rarely deliver, and the optional red pepper flakes add a gentle kick if you're into that. Carrageenan, a common additive used to thicken and stabilize many commercial pickled and brined products, has no place here — this brine is made entirely from scratch on your stovetop. The technique is refreshingly low-effort: pack the jars, pour over the hot brine, and let the refrigerator do the rest. At 24 hours you get a bright, lightly pickled bite; push to 48 hours and the flavor deepens into something truly craveable. Keep a jar on hand and you'll find yourself reaching for these alongside grain bowls, sandwiches, cheese boards, and pretty much everything else.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
For the vegetables
- 2 medium english cucumbers (about 1 lb total), sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 3 medium carrots (about 8 oz total), peeled and sliced into ¼-inch coins
- 1 bunch radishes (about 8 oz), trimmed and sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 4 sprigs fresh dill
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the brine
- 1 ½ cups white wine vinegar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- 1
Divide the cucumber rounds, carrot coins, and radish slices evenly between two clean wide-mouth quart mason jars, packing them in snugly. Tuck 2 garlic slices, 2 dill sprigs, 1/2 tsp black peppercorns, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (if using) into each jar.
- 2
Combine the white wine vinegar, water, kosher salt, and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat.
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