Easy Pickled Carrots
These easy quick pickled carrots are a Japanese-inspired vegan condiment made with just 4 simple ingredients — fresh carrots, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Ready in as little as 1 hour, they're tangy, crunchy, and incredibly versatile. Serve them alongside rice bowls, ramen, burgers, or sushi for a bright burst of flavour that brings a touch of Japanese tradition to your table.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 20kcal
Equipment
- 1 jar
- 1 saucepan
- 1 ladle
- 1 sharp knife or mandolin
- 1 peeler
Ingredients
- 100 ml rice vinegar
- 50 g sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large carrot or 2 medium
Instructions
- Peel the carrot and trim both ends. Slice into thin, wide strips or rounds.
- Place carrots into a small jar, big enough to house them but small enough they fit tightly in.
- Simmer the rice vinegar, salt, and sugar to a small pan on low heat.
- Remove the liquid from heat and once cooled, pour the liquid over the carrots ensuring they are completely submerged.
- Seal the jar tightly with a lid and refrigerate overnight for the best flavor.
Notes
These quick pickled carrots are ready to eat in as little as 1 hour, but for the best flavour, let them pickle overnight in the fridge. The longer they sit, the more tangy and complex the brine becomes.
Use the freshest carrots you can find - crisp, firm carrots will stay crunchy in the brine, while older carrots can turn soft. A mandolin makes slicing quick and uniform, but a sharp knife works just as well.
For a sugar-free version, swap the sugar for stevia or monk fruit sweetener. For a spicy kick, add a few slices of fresh chilli or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the jar before pouring in the brine.
These vegan pickled carrots will keep in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 weeks. Do not freeze - freezing will change the texture of the carrots.
Serve alongside rice bowls, ramen, burgers or as a simple side snack.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serve | Calories: 20kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.03g | Saturated Fat: 0.002g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1002IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.02mg
