India’s no stranger to the need for a pickle. At most tables the meal can’t be considered complete unless there’s some type of achaar or chutney to pass around and savour with the main dish. This bite of tart, sour pickle can help cut through even the densest meal and elevate the flavours in new ways. But if you’ve ever tried making pickles at home, you’ll know that it’s a process that takes time and patience to master.
If you just don’t have the patience for that, no worries, there are ways you can achieve the same effect with much less effort by quick pickling fresh vegetables instead. And as an added benefit, they’re even healthier than pickles made with oil and preservatives.
Preserved using a brine made up of water, vinegar, and salt, these pickles are often also flavoured with sugar, herbs, and spices. It’s also a great way to preserve excess veggies and prevent wastage since they can be stored in the fridge for months at a time and you can keep adding to the jar whenever you need.
The combination of flavours and additions you choose is up to you but there are a few timeless combinations. Almost any fresh vegetable can work and you can adjust the spices depending on what you have in the kitchen. The rule of thumb is just to have approximately a 1:1 mix of water and vinegar with a spoon each of salt and sugar to make up the brine, but beyond that, feel free to experiment.
Below are a few ideas to get you started on your pickling journey.
Quick-Pickled Cucumbers
Ingredients:
- 1 cucumber - cut into strips
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 dry bay leaf
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white or rice vinegar
Method:
- Fill a jar with cucumbers, salt, sugar, garlic, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaf.
- Pour water to fill half of the jar, and then pour in vinegar until the jar is full. Cover and shake until the brine is mixed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
Quick-Pickled Red Onions
Ingredients:
- 1 red onion - sliced
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 jalapeño
- 12 sprigs fresh cilantro
- 10 fresh chives
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white or rice vinegar
Method:
- Fill a jar with red onion, salt, sugar, jalapeño pepper, cilantro, and chives.
- Pour water to fill half of the jar, and then pour in vinegar until the jar is full. Cover and shake until the brine is mixed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
Quick-Pickled Radishes
Ingredients:
- 500 gms radishes - sliced
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 12 fresh chives
- 3 sprigs fresh dill
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 tbsp peppercorns
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup white or rice vinegar
Method
- Fill a jar with radishes, salt, sugar, chives, dill, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, and peppercorns.
- Pour water to fill half of the jar, and then pour in vinegar until the jar is full. Cover and shake until the brine is mixed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.
