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Perfect Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe

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Crunchy, fresh, and tangy, these quick pickled carrots are about to become your new favorite pickle! They are ready to enjoy in as little as a day, and they’ll happily hang out in your fridge for a month.

Easy Pickled Carrots

In our house, pickles are a permanent resident in our fridge (we’re obsessed!). And while we love our classic dill pickles, there’s something truly special about these bright, snappy, quick pickled carrots.

They’re perfectly crunchy, wonderfully fresh, and ridiculously versatile. Enjoy as a speedy snack, on appetizer or charcuterie boards, or add some extra crunch to your salads and sandwiches. If you’re as obsessed with pickling carrots as we are, you’ll also love this homemade giardiniera, which is more of a pickled vegetable relish.

Key Ingredients

  • Carrots: The star of the show! Use the best carrots you can find for this recipe. We really want their natural sweetness and vibrant color to shine. If you grow your own (that’s amazing, by the way!) or have access to carrots from a local farmer’s market, definitely use them.
  • Vinegar: We keep the brine super simple with regular distilled vinegar (5% acidity). It gives the carrots a clean, classic pickled flavor, allowing the sweetness of the carrots to truly come through (it’s also inexpensive!). Feel free to substitute with rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar if you prefer.
  • Salt and Sugar: These are essential for balancing the brine. Without salt or sugar, our brine would taste too intensely like plain vinegar. They help to round out the flavors and enhance the carrots. For salt, I use sea salt or pickling salt (it’s best to avoid table salt here, as the added iodine can interfere with the pickling process). For the sugar, I use plain granulated sugar as my go-to. You can substitute brown sugar, but it may make your brine slightly cloudy.
  • Garlic and Spices: For classic flavor, we love adding sliced garlic to the jars (you can mince it, but be prepared for a slightly more intense garlicky flavor in your brine!). Then, for the spices, we keep it simple with mustard seeds, coriander seeds, a bay leaf, and whole peppercorns. These add that quintessential pickling aroma and a bit of warmth without overpowering the carrots.

The secret to these perfect quick pickled carrots is their simplicity! Just trim your carrots, pack them into a jar, and pour over a quickly heated brine. A night in the fridge transforms them into crunchy, tangy carrots that last up to a month (if you don’t eat them sooner!). I can’t wait for you to try them! For more easy pickles, see our bread and butter pickles, easy pickled peppers, or these pickled beets!

Easy Pickled Carrots

Perfect Quick Pickled Carrots

  • PREP
  • TOTAL

These crunchy, snappy, quick pickled carrots are such a wonderful thing to have in the fridge. I snack on them, serve them alongside cheeses and meats, chop them up for salads, and slice them for sandwiches. Thanks to the vinegar in the brine, just like our cucumber dill pickles, they last for a month in the fridge (but that’s if you don’t eat them sooner!).

Note: The carrots are ready after a night in the fridge, but do get better as they sit in the brine. They really light up around day three!

8 Servings (makes one 1-quart jar)

You Will Need

1 pound (450g) carrots, scrubbed clean

16 ounces (470ml) distilled vinegar, 5% acidity

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons (12g) fine sea salt

4 teaspoons (17g) granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon whole coriander seeds

12 whole peppercorns

Directions

    1Prepare the carrots: Trim the ends of your carrots. Cut each carrot lengthwise into quarters. Then, cut them to lengths that fit nicely inside your 1-quart jar. (We often cut long lengths first, then use any random leftover pieces to pack into the jar’s middle.)

    2Fill the jar: Add half of your sliced garlic to the bottom of a clean 1-quart jar. Tightly pack the prepared carrot spears into the jar. Add the remaining garlic, and then carefully slide the bay leaf down one side of the packed carrots.

    3Make the pickle brine: In a small saucepan, combine the distilled vinegar, sea salt, granulated sugar, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and whole peppercorns. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring just until the sugar and salt have fully dissolved.

    4Pour the brine over the carrots: While the brine is still hot, carefully pour it directly into the jar with the packed carrots. Make sure the brine completely covers all the carrots. Secure the lid on the jar until it’s “finger-tight” (meaning snug but not overly cranked).

    5Cool and refrigerate: Set the jar aside on your counter and let it cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer the jar to your refrigerator. For the best flavor, refrigerate pickled carrots overnight before enjoying them. If you can wait, they get even better after 2 to 3 days! These quick pickled carrots will last covered in their brine in the fridge for up to 1 month!

Adam and Joanne’s Tips

  • The jar: We use a 1-quart wide mouth mason jar (32 ounces or 946ml).
  • Canning: These pickled carrots have been specifically designed for the refrigerator and are meant to be kept in the fridge at all times. However, if you’re experienced in canning, you could adapt them for long-term shelf stability. This would involve using sanitized jars, new lids, and a pressure canner.
  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. Calculating how much salt is in the carrots is difficult, so we have included all of the brine in the calculations.

Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
4 to 5 carrot sticks/spears or 1/8 of the jar
/
Calories
43
/
Total Fat
0.2g
/
Saturated Fat
0g
/
Cholesterol
0mg
/
Sodium
621.7mg
/
Carbohydrate
7.8g
/
Dietary Fiber
1.7g
/
Total Sugars
4.8g
/
Protein
0.6g


AUTHOR:

Joanne Gallagher


Adam and Joanne of Inspired Taste

We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us

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chef Harshini is reintroducing diners to the flavour-laden dishes of Kongunadu

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Fish fry at Kongunadu

Fish fry at Kongunadu
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

Chef Lakshmi Divya Harshini always wanted to learn pastry making, but she had to wait until she turned 23. “My grandfather wasn’t ready to allow me to travel abroad alone, even though I had a Master’s degree in International Business,” she recalls.

Once she completed her culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in London(2009-2010), she returned to India. Over the years, as she observed and understood the culinary landscape in India, she felt a growing need to champion the cuisine of her roots — from Kongunadu.

Kongunadu cuisine originates from the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu and is renowned for its distinctive blend of flavours and use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Some of its most celebrated dishes include arisi paruppu sadam (a comforting rice and lentil dish), kola urundai (spiced meatballs), and kozhi kuzhambu (a fragrant chicken curry). The cuisine’s hallmark lies in its skillful use of regional spices, offering a rich and aromatic culinary experience that stands out in Tamil Nadu’s diverse food culture.

Chef Lakshmi Divya Harshini

Chef Lakshmi Divya Harshini
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangements

“My window to Kongu cuisine was my mother. My grandmother didn’t cook, my mother introduced me to different flavours, dishes, and the art of blending spices to create unique flavours. I also noticed that, for most people outside Tamil Nadu, Tamil cuisine was synonymous with Chettinad. I wanted to shine a light on the food of my region,” says Harshini.

With a family deeply rooted in food, Harshini immersed herself in learning more about Kongunadu cuisine, drawing from family recipes and generations of extraordinary cooks. Before fully delving into the culinary world, she put her International Business degree to use by contributing to family ventures in Coimbatore, including shaping menus for restaurants like Kovai Alankar Vilas.

Even during the pandemic, she found a way to introduce people to Kongu food through farmstays at her ancestral farm in Pollachi. “It was a small farmstay, but visitors cherished the farm experience. What truly left them happiest was the food. That was when I started taking Kongunadu cuisine seriously,” she reflects.

Harshini has since expanded her farm stay experience to Udhagamandalam, where she runs Tiverten Bungalow. While her husband manages the day-to-day operations, she is dedicated to spreading awareness about Kongunadu cuisine, ensuring that its rich and unique heritage gains the recognition it deserves.

Kongunadu Fish Fry

Kongunadu Fish Fry
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangements

Talking about some of the most popular dishes, Harshini shares, “Kola urundai is a beloved traditional dish made by mixing minced meat (usually mutton or chicken) with a blend of spices and herbs. The mixture is shaped into small balls or dumplings, coated with a crisp outer layer made of gram flour (besan), and deep-fried until golden brown.”

Another standout dish is Kongunadu vellai biryani, which is cooked using fragrant seeraga samba rice, a short-grain variety known for its delicate aroma and ability to absorb flavours beautifully.

Harshini’s food occasionally carries subtle influences from Kerala, particularly in dishes where coconut milk is used, such as fish curry. She attributes this to Pollachi’s rich coconut harvest. “Other than that, there is no resemblance to Kerala cuisine,” she clarifies.

Her dips have also gained popularity among those who have tasted her cooking, with standouts like amla and radish-based dips leaving a lasting impression.

Harshini is hosting the Kongunadu Food Festival at The Park. The festival runs until February 16.

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Perfect Vegan Pancakes Recipe

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My easy vegan pancake recipe yields light, extra-fluffy pancakes that taste amazing every single time. Best of all, they’re naturally dairy-free and egg-free. If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, simply use your favorite gluten-free flour blend.

Perfect Vegan Pancakes

I’ve made these vegan pancakes countless times, and my son absolutely loves them—he asks for them all the time! This recipe is pure magic, whether you’re vegan or not. They work perfectly for plant-based eaters, but they’re also a lifesaver when your fridge is almost empty, and you’ve run out of eggs.

Trust me, you won’t miss a thing with these pancakes. They’re light and fluffy in the middle, still get those perfect crispy brown edges, and taste incredible. Go ahead and save this recipe. You’ll be so glad you did! For more vegan recipes, see our easy vegan blueberry muffins!

Key Ingredients

  • Flour: You’ve got options! Use all-purpose, whole wheat, or your favorite gluten-free flour blend. All work beautifully in this recipe.
  • Baking Powder: This is your secret weapon for achieving those light, extra-fluffy pancakes. We use a generous amount, which might seem like a lot, but trust the process—it creates that incredible airy middle. To avoid any metallic aftertaste, I highly recommend using aluminum-free baking powder (like Bob’s Red Mill). I use the same trick for my classic pancakes.
  • Salt, Vanilla Extract, and Cinnamon: These make our pancakes taste incredible. Don’t skip these!
  • Non-Dairy Milk: Feel free to use whatever you have in the fridge. Almond, coconut, hemp, cashew, and oat milk all work perfectly. For an extra special touch, you can even try our homemade oat milk recipe.
  • Oil or Plant-Based Butter: These add moisture and flavor. I particularly love using coconut oil or melted vegan butter for their rich taste. Regular oil, like olive oil, is also a great option and works wonderfully.
  • Sugar: For the tastiest pancakes, a bit of sugar really makes a difference. Granulated, brown, coconut, or even maple syrup will work. While you can omit the sugar, be aware that your pancakes won’t brown as well and will have slightly less flavor.

Vegan pancakes are so easy to make (my 4-year-old even helps me make them). I love serving my vegan pancakes with fruit, such as bananas or berries, and a drizzle of maple syrup. You could also add a spoonful of vegan whipped coconut cream (yum) and make them extra special with this berry fruit salad!

Easy Vegan Pancakes

Perfect Vegan Pancakes

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

Our vegan pancakes are perfect for everyone (vegans and non-vegans alike!). They are just as fluffy as our classic pancakes and taste incredible. They also freeze really well! See my tips for freezing them below the recipe. I love these topped with fruit, our berry fruit salad, and this coconut whipped cream (also known as vegan whipped cream).

Makes 6 pancakes

You Will Need

1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or gluten-free flour blend

2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

1 cup (236ml) dairy-free milk, try homemade oat milk

1 ½ tablespoons sugar or maple syrup

3 tablespoons olive oil, melted coconut oil, or melted plant-based butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Nonstick cooking spray, melted vegan butter, or oil for the skillet

Directions

    1Prepare the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.

    2Prepare the wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the milk, sugar, olive oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.

    3Make the pancake batter: Create a well in the center of the flour mixture, then pour the milk mixture into it. Use a fork to stir until no clumps of flour remain. It is okay if the batter has a few small lumps.

    4Cook the pancakes: Heat a large skillet over medium heat (or use a griddle). The pan is ready if you splatter a little water onto the pan surface, and the water dances around the pan and eventually evaporates.

    5Lightly brush or spray the skillet with oil or melted plant-based butter. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to spoon the batter onto the skillet. Gently spread the batter into a 4-inch circle.

    6When the edges appear dry, bubbles start to form and pop on the top surface of the pancake, flip it over. This takes about 2 minutes. Once flipped, cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked through in the middle.

    7Serve immediately with warm syrup and berries.

Adam and Joanne’s Tips

  • Storing: Place cooked and cooled vegan pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze them for up to 2 months. If freezing, line the pancakes on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag with parchment paper between each pancake to prevent sticking.
  • Reheating pancakes: Place them on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 20 seconds per pancake (add more time for multiple pancakes). Or wrap the pancakes in foil and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
  • Baking powder: For the fluffiest pancakes, use baking powder. We use quite a bit to achieve that fluffy middle (I know it seems like a lot, but trust us). I buy aluminum-free baking powder (Bob’s Red Mill) since it prevents that tinny flavor that can appear when baking powder is used in higher quantities (like in this recipe). For extra fluffy pancakes, use 3 teaspoons of baking powder.
  • Non-dairy milk: We use unsweetened dairy-free milk in these pancakes. If you only have sweetened milk, consider reducing the sugar called for in the recipe.
  • The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.

Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
1 pancake
/
Calories
160
/
Total Fat
7.7g
/
Saturated Fat
1g
/
Cholesterol
0mg
/
Sodium
131.4mg
/
Carbohydrate
21g
/
Dietary Fiber
0.7g
/
Total Sugars
3.3g
/
Protein
2.4g


AUTHOR:

Joanne Gallagher


Adam and Joanne of Inspired Taste

We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us

Previous Post: Easy Vegan Blueberry Muffins
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Asian Chicken Salad – Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

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This Asian chicken salad is packed full of crunchy cabbage, fresh veggies, tender chicken and tossed with the yummiest dressing. It keeps well for days!

This salad is incredibly delicious – an absolute explosion of textures and flavors! The tangy, slightly sweet dressing is out of this world. I could eat this for days and never get sick of it (oh wait, I did!).

Asian chicken salad topped with chow mein noodles in white bowl.Asian chicken salad topped with chow mein noodles in white bowl.

Vegetables for Asian Chicken Salad

This salad is loaded with fresh, crunchy vegetables.

  • Napa cabbage: Might also be called Chinese cabbage. You’ll need about 1 medium head of cabbage for this recipe. Cut the cabbage in half lengthwise and then turn each half cut-side down on the cutting board and slice across in thin shreds.
  • Red cabbage: Cut the cabbage in half, remove the core, turn one half of the cabbage cut-side down and slice thinly. I use about 1/4 of a medium head of red cabbage for this recipe.
  • Red bell pepper: Slice off the bottom and top. Remove the core. Cut the wide strip of remaining pepper in thin slices.
  • Carrots: The carrots can be shredded on a box grater, in a food processor, sliced by hand, or storebought matchstick carrots work, too (which is what I use). 
  • Green onions: Trim off the root end. Finely chop white and green parts.
  • Chopped cilantro: A half bunch of cilantro, chopped, is just about perfect for this recipe. You can add more or less, to taste.

The exact amount of vegetables for the salad is variable. Add more or less, to taste, and if you omit one vegetable or another, just make up for it in volume with another of the veggies.

I prefer all the vegetables, but especially the cabbage, thinly sliced.

You can use a food processor fitted with the shredding/slicing blade for optimal and even shredding, but I just get in there with a good old-fashioned knife and cutting board and slice as thinly as possible.

Add all of the salad ingredients to a bowl and prepare the dressing.

The Most Flavorful Dressing

The dressing for this salad is out-of-this-world delicious. You’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Unseasoned rice vinegar: It’s important to use unseasoned since the recipe adds salt and sweetness with other ingredients.
  • Soy sauce: I always use low-sodium; if using full-sodium soy sauce, omit the pinch of salt.
  • Honey: Add more to taste, after blending, if needed.
  • Toasted sesame oil: This is easily found in the Asian foods aisle.
  • Olive oil: You can sub in another type of oil, if desired (grapeseed, vegetable, etc).
  • Garlic and Ginger: Fresh garlic and ginger is always a good idea. I often use the frozen cubes, and that works great, too.
  • Peanut butter: This adds the most delightful creamy sweetness to the dressing. It can be omitted for allergy purpose or other reasons, but I highly recommend using it for a well-balanced dressing.

Once the salad ingredients are tossed together, add the dressing, and toss again until evenly combined.

Make-Ahead Salad

Because cabbage, and not lettuce, makes up the base of the salad, along with other crisp veggies, it stays crunchy for a few days. Talk about best.lunch.ever.

Make-Ahead Game Plan

  • If you are eating this for dinner but expecting leftovers, reserve the chow mein noodles and sesame seeds and add them just before serving.
  • If you are intentionally making this salad ahead of time to serve later (as a full batch), I suggest chopping all of the vegetables and chicken and storing them in separate containers in the refrigerator. Make the dressing and also store in the refrigerator. Toss everything together when ready to serve.

I ate this salad for three days in a row, and I was still dreaming of it after it was gone.

It is refreshingly crunchy and delicious, and that tangy-sweet dressing with the vegetables and tender chicken is literally the best salad combo ever. I can’t wait for you to make it!

Fork scooping up Asian chicken salad on white plate.Fork scooping up Asian chicken salad on white plate.
Asian chicken salad on white plate.Asian chicken salad on white plate.

Asian Chicken Salad with the Yummiest Dressing

Salad:

  • 4 to 5 cups finely shredded Napa cabbage, about 1/2 of medium cabbage (see note)
  • 3 cups diced cooked chicken (see note)
  • 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage, about 1/4 of medium cabbage (see note)
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots (see note)
  • 1 cup julienned red pepper
  • 2 green onions, white and green parts finely chopped
  • ¼ to ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Dressing:

  • ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter (see note)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

Topping:

  • Chow mein noodles, for topping
  • Toasted sesame seeds, for topping
  • Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss.

  • Add all the dressing ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. Taste, and add additional honey, salt, and pepper, if needed.

  • Pour the dressing evenly over the salad and toss until evenly combined.

  • Top with chow mein noodles and toasted sesame seeds (optional) and serve immediately. The salad keeps well for several days in the refrigerator – if making ahead of time, reserve the chow mein noodles and sesame seeds and add them just before serving.

Vegetables: the exact amount of vegetables for this salad is variable. Add more or less, to taste (and if you omit one vegetable or another, just make up for it in volume with another of the veggies).

  • Cabbage: you can use a knife/cutting board or the shredding disc on a food processor for the cabbage. I prefer the cabbage finely sliced for this salad (I do it with a knife and just slice as thinly as possible). 
  • Carrots: the carrots can be shredded on a box grater, in a food processor, sliced by hand, or storebought matchstick carrots work, too (which is what I use). 

Chicken: I prefer the chicken to be diced fairly small for this recipe. 
Peanut Butter: the peanut butter can be omitted for a more basic vinaigrette dressing (although I highly encourage the peanut butter – it lends a creamy sweetness that is incredible in the salad). 

Serving: 1 serving (about 2 cups of salad), Calories: 197kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 506mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g

Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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