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NO SUGAR Quick Pickles Master Recipe for Pickling any Vegetable
Use this No Sugar Quick Pickles Master Recipe for Pickling any Vegetable. These instructions also include a Basic Pickling Spice Recipe.
What Are Easy Quick Pickles?
Quick pickles typically refer to cucumbers that are turned into pickles, but they can also refer to any vegetable that is pickled. In my recipe video, I am pickling cauliflower, sweet bell peppers, and a jalapeño for a bit of spice! And with my printable recipe, we’re going to pickle these ingredients without any added sugar.
A Change From Ferments
Having a master recipe for pickling veggies without sugar is handy when you want to quickly prepare pickled vegetables—within an hour—as opposed to fermenting your veggies, which can take days. (I call this recipe a “master recipe” since you can use it on various types of vegetables.)
Now don’t get me wrong. If you have been with me for a while, you know that I love ferments for their probiotic-rich benefits. However, now and then, it’s nice to pull together a quick pickled vegetable as an easy summertime side dish.
And if you want to give these quick pickled vegetables a probiotic boost, I show you how in my previous video, where I demonstrate how to make actual pickles—quick pickles using cucumbers. You can use the same technique that I use in my earlier quick pickles video in this post’s recipe to boost the good bacteria in your batch of pickled vegetables.
Basic Pickling Spice Recipe
Whenever you are making quick pickles, you need a basic pickling spice mixture. This mixture is especially important for boosting the flavor of your vegetables when you are making no sugar quick pickles. My printable recipe includes instructions for a basic pickling spice.
With this recipe, we will make more pickling spice than we need for one jar of pickled veggies. This is because I want you to have a batch of pickling spice whenever you want to pickle some vegetables, such as no sugar or sweetened quick pickles. You can store your leftover pickled spice in an airtight container in your pantry.
You’ll be glad that you have this pickling spice handy when you want to pickle the vegetables that come fresh out of your garden, the farmer’s market, or your local grocery store.
In my recipe video, I show you how to create a basic pickling spice with the following ingredients:
- Allspice
- Coriander
- Dill Seed
- Mustard Seed
- Red Pepper
- Whole Cloves
Related Videos
Now that you have learned how to make No Sugar Quick Pickles, be sure to try these quick pickled cucumbers and pickled beets. Both recipes have a touch of sweetness that you’ll enjoy!
And when you are ready to try your hand at ferments, I’m confident you’ll find these recipes easy to make…and you’ll love their flavor too!
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NO SUGAR Quick Pickled Vegetables
Equipment
- 1 half gallon jar, 2 quart-sized jars, or 4 pint-sized jars (with lid/lids)
Ingredients
Basic Pickling Spice Mix (See Recipe Notes Below)
- 6 tbsp. Mustard seeds, yellow or brown
- 3 tbsp. Allspice berries
- 2 tbsp. Dill seeds 1 tbsp of dry dill can be substituted
- 2 tbsp. Coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp. Red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. Whole cloves
Vegetables
- 8 cups Vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces I used cauliflower florets, sweet bell peppers, and 1 jalapeño pepper. See Recipe Notes below for other options.
Brine
- 2 cups Water
- 2 cups Vinegar Plain white vinegar works best, but you can also use apple cider vinegar.
- 1 tbsp. Fine ground salt If using a coarse ground salt, you will need 2 tablespoons.
- 2 tbsp. Basic pickling spice mix
Instructions
Basic Pickling Spice Mix
- Mix all the spices together and store in an air-tight jar. Your mix will stay fresh for at least one year. (You will only need to use 2 tbsps of this pickling spice mix for this recipe.)
Quick Pickled Vegetables
- Fill your jar(s) with vegetables and pack tightly, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace from the rim of the jar(s). Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, mix water, vinegar, salt, and pickling spice together. This is your brine. Bring your brine to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium and simmer for 10 minutes.
- After the 10 minute simmer, begin to carefully ladle the brine into the jar(s). Be sure to cover the vegetables completely, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace from the rim of the jar.
- Some of the pickling spice mix may accumulate on top of the vegetables as you ladle in the brine. As the hot brine begins to soften the vegetables, the pickling spices will slowly work their way throughout the jar(s).
- Allow the vegetables in the brine to cool slightly and then put the lid(s) on the jar(s) and refrigerate. Your quick pickled vegetables should be ready to eat within one hour.
Video
Notes
- Bay leaves (This ingredient is especially helpful when pickling cucumbers since bay leaves contain tannins that will help to keep the cucumbers crisp.)
- Black peppercorns
- Cardamon pods
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fennel seeds
- Ginger, fresh grated
- Herbs de Provence
- Juniper berries
- Lemon peels
- Marjoram, fresh or dried
- Oregano, fresh or dried
- Rosemary, fresh or dried in moderation
- Star Anise
- Thyme, fresh or dried in moderation
- Turmeric, fresh grated
- Asparagus (add bay leaves to keep crisp)
- Beets (steam until just tender)
- Bell peppers
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower florets
- Celery
- Cucumbers (add bay leaves to keep crisp)
- Diakon radish
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Green beans (steam until just tender before pickling)
- Jalapeño peppers or other spicy peppers
- Okra
- Onions, any color including green onions and shallots
- Pepperoncinis
- Radish
- Turnips
- Zucchini
Shop for items used in this blog post or video
Favorite Pickling Supplies
- Half Gallon Canning Jars
- Jar Storage Lids
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Masontops Complete Fermentation Kit (See promocode below.)
- Wooden Pickle Packer
Use promo code MARYSNST for a one-time 15% off Masontops and Breadsmart products on Amazon.com.
Recommended Reading
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*Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My content may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.
**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.
Hi Mary. I’ve watched your ferment video and was looking for a no sugar quick brine recipe. I’ll be using this as my go to recipe. What does the sugar add if you don’t mind?
Thanks!
Bobby
Hi Bobby, So happy this recipe was helpful! All the sugar adds is flavor. Love, Mary
What an excellent recipe that can be modified and experimented on to find new flavors of pickling.
Love this recipe and fully recommend you try it.
Hi Jeremy, Wonderful to hear that you like this! Love, Mary