High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Classic Pickled Vegetables
Store-bought pickles and jarred vegetables are one of the sneakiest places high fructose corn syrup hides, tucked into brine recipes where you'd never think to look. Making your own at home means you control every single ingredient, and this recipe keeps things beautifully simple — just fresh cucumbers, carrots, and radishes with a clean white wine vinegar brine sweetened by nothing more than a tablespoon of plain granulated sugar. The result is bright, tangy, and genuinely crunchy in a way that most commercial jars can't compete with. Fresh dill and sliced garlic bring an aromatic depth, while optional red pepper flakes add a gentle kick if you're in the mood for a little heat. The brine comes together in under five minutes on the stovetop, and after a quick cool-down the jars go straight into the fridge — no canning equipment or special skills required. Give them 24 hours and you've got lightly pickled vegetables ready to pile onto sandwiches, serve alongside grilled meats, or snack on straight from the jar.
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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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