Xanthan Gum Free Quick Pickled Vegetables with Turmeric & Ginger
These vibrant pickled vegetables are a punchy, colorful addition to any meal — tangy from apple cider vinegar, warmly spiced with turmeric and fresh ginger, and just a little fiery if you go for the red pepper flakes. The brine comes together in one saucepan in just a few minutes, and the vegetables — crisp cucumber rounds, carrot coins, cauliflower florets, radishes, and sliced garlic — soak up all that golden, aromatic flavor beautifully. For anyone navigating thickener sensitivities, this recipe is naturally clean: the brine relies entirely on vinegar, honey, and spices to do its job, with zero need for any stabilizers or additives. Many store-bought pickles and condiments sneak in gums or thickeners you'd never expect, so making your own is genuinely the easiest way to stay in control of what's in the jar. The whole process is low-effort and deeply satisfying — pack your jars, pour over the hot brine, and within 45 minutes you have something that tastes like it took far longer. Pile them onto grain bowls, tacos, sandwiches, or a cheese board, and watch them disappear fast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the brine
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
- ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For the vegetables
- 1 medium english cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into thin coins or matchsticks
- 1 cup cauliflower florets, cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 4 radishes, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetables: slice the cucumber into thin rounds, cut the carrots into thin coins or matchsticks, break the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets, thinly slice the radishes, and thinly slice the garlic. Pack the vegetables snugly into two clean pint-sized mason jars (or one quart jar), distributing them evenly.
- 2
Combine the apple cider vinegar, water, honey, sea salt, turmeric, grated ginger, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the honey and salt are fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes.
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