Visiting Florida farmers markets this time of year is fun. Gorgeous carrots, crunchy celery, bright lettuce and greens, deep purple eggplant, colorful peppers, and bunches of herbs are especially plentiful.
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and I’m sure you’ve seen the delicious recipes for corned beef, potatoes, cheese dips, soda breads, and desserts to celebrate the big day. Since there are plenty of those options, I have no guilt posting something healthy (and green)!
Quick pickles are awesome because all you have to do is chop veggies, stick ’em in a jar and fill it with a warm solution of water, vinegar, salt, sugar (optional) and aromatics like garlic, chile peppers, mustard seeds, peppercorns and herbs. Refrigerate for 2-3 days and you’ve got pickles! Plus, there’s no need to go through the formality of ‘canning’ – you just keep them in the fridge.
So chop away and fill those jars with beautiful veggies, then enjoy them alongside a cheese platter, a sandwich, inside a zesty Bloody Mary. Make them as spicy or sweet as you like – experiment with proportions, try a new herb or peppercorn or different type of vinegar and see how they affect flavor.If you want to try another method for pickles, try Sweet & Spicy Refrigerator Pickles.
Quick-Pickled Veggies
Enjoy a tasty and healthy snack by pickling veggies and keeping them in the fridge!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Fresh vegetables, trimmed I used green bean, carrot, asparagus, Kirby cucumber, Vidalia onion
- 4-5 cloves Garlic, peeled & mashed
- Several sprigs Fresh dill
- 1-2 tsp. Mustard seed
- 1-2 tsp. Peppercorns (black, pink, other)
- 4-5 Bay leaves
- 1-2 Fresh chiles (jalapeño, red, other) Optional - use more if you like 'em spicy
- Several slices Fresh ginger, peeled & julienned
- 3 1/2 cups Water
- 1 1/2 cups Distilled white vinegar
- 2 Tb. Kosher salt
- 2-3 Tb. Granulated sugar Optional
Instructions
- Wash, peel (if necessary) and trim veggies, cut to fit jars, then fill each jar.
- Divide garlic, herbs, mustard seed, peppercorns, bay leaf, chile and ginger into each jar.
- In a small saucepan, bring water, vinegar, salt and sugar (if using) to a simmer then pour the warm liquid into each jar until it just covers the veggies. Leave jars on the counter, uncovered, until they come to room temperature, then cover each with a lid. Turn each upside down a few times to combine all the flavors. Refrigerate 2-3 days. After the first day, flip each jar (be sure the lids are on tightly!), and return to the other side the next day.
- These pickles may be kept in the refrigerator for several weeks (but I doubt they'll last that long)!
Notes
This solution fills about five 16-oz jars w/veggies (depending on the shape and size of your actual jars). If you're using cucumbers and the liquid doesn't cover the last jar to the top, fear not. The salt in the warm solution should pull out some liquid in the cucumbers, which may just fill the void as it sits on the counter coming to room temp. But if your cucumbers don't exude much liquid, simply top off the jar with a little more vinegar & water and flip the jar to combine everything.
Just love the way these veggies look. So pretty in the jars and very tempting. Nice to have a recipe that’s easy and quick, therefore I will make some. Thanks
There’s nothing prettier than fresh veggies — I hope you give ’em a try 🙂
Hey Nicole,
These refrigerator pickles of yours are to die for. I remember the two jars you gifted me a few years ago, they lasted about two hours, and this post just sparked a flavor sensation in my brain so I’m going to give the recipe a try. Wish me luck and thanks for posting this.
Joe
I’m glad you like these pickles, Joe! I hope you’ll get creative with your mix-ins 🙂