Quick & Easy Pickled Red Onion and Carrot Relish: Your Ultimate Summer Condiment
Get ready to elevate your summer grilling game with a zesty and vibrant condiment you won’t be able to get enough of: Pickled Red Onion and Carrot Relish! This homemade relish offers a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy notes, coupled with an irresistible crunch. In just 15 minutes, you can whip up this flavor-packed addition that transforms ordinary burgers, tacos, and grilled meats into culinary masterpieces. Stock your fridge with this delicious, versatile relish and prepare to take your everyday meals to an exciting new level!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Quick Pickled Relish
- Key Ingredients for Your Pickled Relish
- How to Make Quick Pickled Onions with Carrots
- Expert Recipe Tips for Perfect Pickling
- Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Pickled Red Onions and Carrots
- Storage Tips for Homemade Relish
- Frequently Asked Questions About Pickling
- More Must-Try Condiment Recipes
- Pickled Red Onion and Carrot Relish Recipe Card
Living in California offers many perks, and one of the best is undoubtedly the year-round grilling season. There’s something truly special about the smoky aroma, those perfect char marks, and the joy of cooking al fresco that enhances every meal. It’s a culinary experience that just can’t be beaten, and it sets the stage for incredible flavors.
As you might gather from my recipes, I have a deep appreciation for condiments that deliver a bold flavor punch. From my spicy homemade ketchup and creamy buttermilk ranch dressing to the rich indulgence of cowboy butter and the fresh zest of chimichurri sauce, condiments are practically their own food group in my household. They’re the secret weapon for transforming simple dishes into unforgettable meals.
Today, we’re adding a new, indispensable contender to that lineup: quick pickled red onion and carrots. This vibrant relish isn’t just a side; it’s the ultimate grilling condiment designed to transform your everyday burgers, hot dogs, and pork chops into all-star main dishes. It delivers an incredible balance of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors that will leave your taste buds wanting more. The best part? It’s ready to enjoy in just 15 minutes and will stay fresh and delicious in your fridge for up to two weeks, making it ideal for convenient meal prep.
Why You’ll Love This Quick Pickled Relish
- Made with 7 Simple Ingredients. You won’t need a pantry full of exotic items for this recipe. Just a handful of fresh vegetables and pantry staples are all it takes to create this incredibly flavorful pickled relish. This simplicity makes it perfect for even novice cooks and ensures natural, wholesome flavors shine through.
- Keeps for 2 Weeks in the Fridge. This quick pickle is a fantastic make-ahead condiment. Prepare a batch on the weekend, store it in the refrigerator, and enjoy its fresh, zesty flavor throughout the week. It’s perfect for spontaneous weeknight meals or last-minute grilling sessions.
- A Perfect Harmony of Flavors. These quick pickled red onions and carrots truly hit all the flavor sensors. You get the bright sweetness from the carrots and a hint of sugar, the savory depth from salt and pepper, the exhilarating tanginess from the vinegar, and a delightful spicy kick from crushed red pepper flakes. It’s a complex flavor profile that instantly enhances any dish.
- Incredibly Versatile to Elevate Any Meal. Beyond just burgers, this relish is a game-changer. It’s perfect for adding a bright, acidic counterpoint to rich tacos, a crunchy element to fresh salads, or a zesty topping for grain bowls. Its vibrant color and bold taste make it a delightful addition to countless culinary creations.
Key Ingredients for Your Pickled Relish
Creating this irresistible pickled relish starts with selecting fresh, quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is essential for achieving that perfect balance of flavor and texture.
- Red Onion: Red onions are the ideal choice for this quick pickle recipe. Their naturally crisp texture holds up wonderfully to the pickling process, and their slightly spicy flavor mellows beautifully into a sweet-tangy delight. Plus, they impart a gorgeous pink hue to the relish, making it as appealing to the eye as it is to the palate.
- Carrot: A finely diced carrot brings a touch of natural sweetness and an essential crunchy texture contrast to the relish. Beyond flavor, its bright orange color adds another layer of visual appeal, making the relish even more appetizing. Ensure they are diced small for the best texture and to absorb the brine effectively.
- White Vinegar: This is the tangy foundation that brings all the flavors together in the pickling brine. For successful pickling, using vinegar with a 5 percent acidity is crucial, and white vinegar perfectly fits this requirement. It offers a clean, neutral tart flavor that allows the natural tastes of the vegetables and spices to shine without overpowering them.
- Sugar: Sugar plays a dual role in this recipe. Firstly, it expertly balances the sharp acidity of the white vinegar, contributing to the relish’s delightful sweet and tangy profile. Secondly, it acts as a mild preservative, helping to extend the shelf life of your quick pickled vegetables in the refrigerator.
- Crushed Red Pepper: These are the same versatile flakes you’d typically sprinkle on your pizza, and they’re here to add a fantastic spicy kick to your pickled vegetables. The amount can be adjusted to your preference – add more for extra heat or less for a milder relish. If you buy a jar specifically for this recipe, remember you can also use the rest in other dishes like a speedy no-cook tomato sauce or flavorful spicy shrimp tacos.
- Black Pepper: For the most aromatic and robust flavor, always opt for freshly ground black pepper. Its subtle heat and earthy notes complement the other spices and enhance the overall taste of the relish. Avoid pre-ground pepper if possible, as it can lose its potency quickly.
- Salt: While pickling salt (pure sodium chloride without anti-caking agents) is traditionally preferred for long-term canning, for a quick pickle recipe like this one, common kosher salt or even regular table salt works perfectly fine. Salt is vital for drawing out moisture from the vegetables, seasoning the brine, and contributing to the pickling process.
Refer to the full recipe card below for precise measurements and quantities of each ingredient.
How to Make Quick Pickled Onions with Carrots
This flavorful pickled relish comes together incredibly fast, requiring just a few simple steps. Follow these clear instructions for achieving pickling perfection and a vibrant condiment:
- Blanch the Vegetables. Begin by blanching your sliced red onions and diced carrots. This quick dip in boiling water for about one minute serves several important purposes: it helps to kill surface bacteria, preserves the vegetables’ vibrant color and crisp-tender texture, and significantly mutes the raw, pungent flavor of the onion, making it milder and sweeter. Once blanched, promptly drain them in a fine-mesh sieve to stop the cooking process, then return them to the empty saucepan.
- Prepare and Add the Brine. With the blanched vegetables back in the pan, it’s time to create the delicious pickling liquid. You can add all the brine ingredients—white vinegar, sugar, crushed red chili flakes, black pepper, and salt—directly to the drained onions and carrots. As the mixture gently heats, give it a few stirs. This action helps the sugar and salt dissolve more quickly and ensures they are evenly distributed, creating a perfectly balanced pickling solution. Bring this mixture to a boil and cook for just one minute to infuse the flavors.
- Fill the Jars. Once the pickling mixture has simmered, it’s time to transfer it to storage. You will typically need two pint-sized (16-ounce) glass jars to hold the entire batch of pickled red onion and carrot relish. Carefully spoon the vegetables into the jars first, ensuring they are packed relatively well but not overly compressed. If you have longer pieces of onion, using kitchen tongs can be helpful for neat placement, making sure everything fits comfortably.
- Cool and Refrigerate. After filling the jars with the relish and its liquid, leave the lids off to allow the mixture to cool down gradually to room temperature. This step is important to prevent condensation inside the jar, which can affect the texture and lead to quicker spoilage. Once completely cooled, securely cover the jars with their lids and transfer them to the fridge. The relish will continue to develop flavor as it chills and will be ready to enjoy shortly thereafter.
Pro Tip: Glass jars are hands-down the best choice for storing pickled onions and carrots. Unlike plastic containers, glass will not absorb the strong odor or taste of the onions and vinegar, ensuring your relish remains fresh and untainted, and your containers stay neutral for future use.
Expert Recipe Tips for Perfect Pickling
- Utilize Tongs for Easy Jar Filling. To make the process of filling your jars as neat and efficient as possible, always reach for a pair of kitchen tongs. Use them to carefully pack the blanched vegetables into the jars. Once the solids are in place, you can then easily pour the pickling liquid over them. For even more precise pouring, transfer the hot pickling liquid into a liquid measuring cup equipped with a spout. This simple trick minimizes spills and mess.
- Get Creative with Additional Spices and Herbs. While this quick pickled red onion and carrot relish is delicious as is, don’t hesitate to experiment with dried herbs and spices to customize its flavor profile. Consider adding a teaspoon of whole mustard seeds for a classic pickling note, caraway seeds for an earthy, slightly rye-like flavor, or dill seeds for a fresh, herbaceous touch. These additions infuse even more depth and complexity into the pickling mixture.
- Don’t Waste the Leftover Pickling Liquid. The flavorful liquid that remains after you’ve enjoyed all your pickled veggies is a culinary gem! It’s packed with a delicious blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy notes. This liquid can be repurposed in several creative ways: use it as a base for a vibrant homemade salad dressing, incorporate it into marinades for chicken or fish, or even quick-pickle another small batch of thinly sliced vegetables like cucumbers or radishes. It’s a fantastic way to minimize waste and maximize flavor.
Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Pickled Red Onions and Carrots
These quick pickled vegetables are not just a condiment; they’re a versatile flavor enhancer that can elevate a wide array of dishes. Their bright, tangy, and slightly spicy profile adds a wonderful zing and crunch. Here are just a few of the many delicious ways to incorporate them into your meals:
- Pile them onto burgers or hot dogs. A classic pairing, the relish cuts through the richness of grilled meats, adding a burst of fresh flavor and texture.
- Garnish deviled eggs. A spoonful of the relish adds an unexpected tangy crunch and a pop of color to creamy deviled eggs, taking them from simple to sophisticated.
- Use them as a topping for rice or grain bowls. Brighten up hearty bowls like Quick Korean Beef Bowls or any vegetarian grain bowl with a vibrant layer of pickled goodness.
- Add to a fresh salad. Replace or complement your usual salad dressing with a spoonful of this relish for an instant flavor boost and a welcome textural element.
- Set them out with all the fixings on taco night. Offer this relish as a delicious alternative or addition to your typical taco toppings, providing a zesty counterpoint to savory fillings.
- Add to your next charcuterie board. The vibrant color and tangy taste make it an excellent accompaniment to cheeses, cured meats, and crackers, adding a gourmet touch.
- Dice them up and stir them into tuna salad or egg salad. Finely chop the pickled vegetables and mix them into your favorite tuna or egg salad recipe for an incredible boost of flavor, acidity, and crunch.
- Add them atop your avocado toast. For a quick and easy breakfast or snack, spread creamy avocado on toast and top with this relish for a delightful tangy contrast that cuts through the richness.
Storage Tips for Homemade Relish
To ensure your pickled red onion and carrot relish stays fresh and flavorful, store it in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. As previously mentioned, glass jars are the superior choice for storage as they prevent any unwanted absorption of odors or flavors. To keep your homemade relish in peak condition for as long as possible, adhere to these essential storage guidelines:
- Keep Vegetables Fully Submerged in Liquid. It is crucial that all the pickled vegetables remain entirely submerged beneath the pickling liquid. This immersion prevents them from drying out, helps maintain their crisp texture and vibrant flavor, and, most importantly, protects them from exposure to air, which can lead to spoilage.
- Ensure a Tight Seal After Each Use. After dishing out some of your delicious relish, always make sure to securely seal the container’s lid. Minimizing air exposure is key to maintaining freshness and significantly slows down the potential for spoilage. A tightly sealed jar creates a barrier against airborne contaminants and oxidation.
- Periodically Check for Signs of Spoilage. Before each use, take a moment to inspect your pickled relish for any indications of spoilage. Look for an “off” or unusual odor, a slimy or mushy texture in the vegetables, or any visible mold growth. If you observe any of these signs, it’s best to err on the side of caution and discard the vegetables immediately to ensure food safety.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pickling
While I highly recommend using red onions for their beautiful pink color, crisp texture, and pleasantly spicy flavor that mellows perfectly during pickling, other onion varieties can certainly be used. White onions, known for their slightly milder taste, would also work well. Alternatively, Vidalia onions, which are famously sweet, would lend a distinctively different but equally delicious flavor profile to the relish, though the color might not be as vibrant.
Absolutely! Any vinegar with a similar acidity level (around 5%) would be a suitable substitute for white vinegar in this recipe. Popular choices include apple cider vinegar, which adds a fruity tang; red wine vinegar, offering a slightly bolder, more complex flavor; or white wine vinegar, which is a bit milder than red. Be aware that using a different vinegar will alter the final flavor and potentially the color of your pickled relish. Rice vinegar, while lower in acidity, could also be used since these are quick pickles stored in the refrigerator, adding a subtle, delicate sweetness.
Yes, definitely! Even after you’ve savored all the delicious pickled carrots and onions, the remaining liquid is a powerhouse of flavor that shouldn’t go to waste. It’s perfectly good for adding more sliced vegetables for another quick pickling session. You can also incorporate it into a vibrant homemade salad dressing for an extra zing, use it as a flavorful tenderizer in marinades, or even pour a splash into your favorite Bloody Mary mixture for a unique twist. For best results and food safety, I would recommend using the leftover liquid within approximately one month.
More Must-Try Condiment Recipes
Once you discover the power of homemade condiments, you’ll want to try them all. Use these incredible recipes to raise the bar on your cooking and impress your family and friends with vibrant, flavorful additions to any meal.
- Cowboy Butter
- Homemade Chimichurri Sauce
- 15-Minute Orange Cranberry Sauce
- 10-Minute Blueberry Sauce
- Easy Homemade Butterscotch Sauce
This quick pickled red onion and carrot relish is more than just a condiment; it’s a simple yet powerful way to inject fresh, bold flavors into your everyday cooking. With its ease of preparation, versatility, and fantastic taste, it’s sure to become a staple in your kitchen. So, fire up the grill, prepare your favorite dishes, and get ready to enjoy the vibrant addition of this tangy, sweet, and spicy homemade relish!
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Pickled Red Onion and Carrot Relish
Ingredients
- 1 large red onion, sliced into thin rings
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced (small)
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Blanch the sliced onions and diced carrots in a small saucepan of boiling water for one minute.
- Strain the vegetables into a colander and then return them back to the pan.
- Add the white vinegar, sugar, crushed red chili flakes, pepper and salt. Then add just enough water to cover the vegetables. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook it for one minute.
- Pour the pickled relish (with the liquid) into jars and let it cool completely before sealing the jars. The relish will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Kelly’s Notes
- Use tongs to transfer the vegetables from the pan to the jars to avoid mess and handle hot ingredients safely.
- For even more complex flavor, consider adding dried herbs and spices, such as whole mustard seed, caraway seed or dill seed, directly to the pickling mixture along with the other brine ingredients.
- Don’t discard the leftover pickling liquid! It can be repurposed as a zesty base for homemade salad dressing or used to quick-pickle another small batch of fresh vegetables.
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