Paraben Free Ginger-Lime Quick-Pickled Vegetable Medley
Bright, tangy, and loaded with color, this quick-pickled medley brings together daikon radish, carrot, cucumber, and red cabbage in a brine that's as vibrant as it looks. Fresh ginger and lime zest give the pickling liquid a lively, aromatic kick, while a touch of honey rounds out the acidity without tipping into sweetness. The whole process is refreshingly straightforward — salt the vegetables, simmer the brine, pour, and chill. For anyone navigating preservative sensitivities, store-bought pickles can be a minefield of additives and synthetic preservatives, but this recipe uses nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients from start to finish. Apple cider vinegar and fresh lime juice do all the heavy lifting as natural preservatives, so you know exactly what's going into the jar. The turmeric adds a gorgeous golden hue to the brine while the red cabbage bleeds a deep jewel tone, making this as beautiful as it is delicious. Pile it onto grain bowls, tacos, or sandwiches, or serve it straight from the bowl with a scatter of fresh cilantro — it genuinely goes with everything.
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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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