Cinnamon Free Ginger-Lime Quick-Pickled Vegetable Medley
This bright, tangy pickle medley is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste more alive. Daikon, carrot, cucumber, and red cabbage come together in a ginger-lime brine that's punchy, a little sweet from honey, and beautifully golden from a touch of turmeric. For anyone avoiding cinnamon, store-bought pickles and spice blends can be a minefield — warm spices have a way of sneaking into brines and pickling mixes where you least expect them. Here, the heat and complexity come entirely from fresh ginger and bright lime zest, so the flavor is bold and layered without a trace of that problematic spice. The process is genuinely simple: salt the vegetables, simmer the brine, pour and wait. After a short rest in the fridge, you get crisp, vibrantly colored vegetables that are ready to pile onto tacos, grain bowls, sandwiches, or anything that needs a little lift. Leftovers keep well for up to five days, so one batch goes a long way.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the vegetables
- 1 cup daikon radish, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
- 1 cup carrot, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
- 1 cup english cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 1 cup red cabbage, very thinly sliced
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
For the brine
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
- 1 tsp lime zest (from about 1 lime)
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the daikon, carrot, cucumber, and red cabbage in a large heatproof bowl. Sprinkle with the fine sea salt, toss well, and let stand for 10 minutes until the vegetables begin to release a little liquid.
- 2
While the vegetables rest, combine the apple cider vinegar, water, honey, grated ginger, lime zest, lime juice, and turmeric in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the honey is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
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