Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

This Vietnamese Pickles recipeis my go-to for so many dishes. Everyone knows that a family recipe is a special one, with special nuances and flavors unique to ones family history and story. My Vietnamese banh mi pickles are less sweet than most recipes, yet simple and delicious.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (1)

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe

I never feel as if one family recipe is ever “better” than another. Each one is different and wonderful on it’s own merits because of what it has meant to those who made it over generations. And for those who grew up eating favorite family recipes, the flavors and comfort these dishes bring are priceless.

My Vietnamese recipes are usually rooted in family tradition, reflective of where I was born and the birthplace of my ancestors. Grandparents hailed from the Northern Viet-nam and escaped the Communist regime to Central Vietnam during the war. Family stories that were passed down from my elders who had survived the wars. Accompanied with each memory was a recipe that was a window to the past, a reflection of their lives back before I was even born.

Video: Vietnamese Pickles Recipe

My Inspiration: Mom’s Pickles

I always consider my Mom to be the queen of Vietnamese pickles. When mom gives a gift of love to those she cares for, I can almost guarantee that it would be in the form of pickles. And of course, all made from the heart.Her delicate touch and emphasis on fresh crunch in each jar of her pickles was passed down from my Maternal Grandmother. If you were to taste the pickles, you would know it’s brined in my family tradition and regional flair.

My Vietnamese Pickles Recipe is Less Sweet

The Vietnamese carrot daikon pickles I grew up with weren’t too sweet and more on the salty side. My father grew up in Northern Vietnam, where the foods were more subtle, less fiery and sweet than their Southern counterparts. When Dad would see Mom pickle huge jars of vegetables for her nail shop ladies (most of which grew up cooking in the sweet South), he was always remind her to “not to add too much sugar”!Over the years I’ve modified my Vietnamese carrot daikon pickles family recipe and found a balance that fit my eating lifestyle the most. I do love the salty brine of pickles, but am appreciating more of the slightly sweet balance in my pickles. This recipe is a reflection of both flavors.

You can cut the carrots and pickles thinly with a knife. It does take a little longer and sometimes inconsistent. To make these pickles super easy and quick, we use our favorite tool. It’s the julienne tool that cuts carrots so fast. More info here: OXO Julienne Tool

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (2)
Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (3)
Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (4)

Easy Vietnamese Pickles for Banh Mi

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (5)

I always grew up eating is Vietnamese pickled carrots and daikon radish and they’ve become a staple in my pantry. These Vietnamese carrot daikon pickles or (do chua) are most well known for making appearances in Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. But I know them just as do chua and eat them with rice, noodles and spring rolls.

Chose your favorite dish and these wonderful Vietnamese carrots and daikon pickles will enhance any meal that needs that fresh, salty crunch. Thanks and lots of love to Mom, Grandma and preserved family recipes that make food and sharing so special. Have fun making this Vietnamese pickles recipe. Are there any special family recipes or traditions you hold close?

Some FavoriteVietnamese Pickles Ingredients and Tools:

It can sometimes be hard to find good Vietnamese ingredients and tools. Here’ssomeof the favorites for pickling and beyond:

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (6)

This little tool makes julienning the carrots and other ingredients a breeze.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (7)

The Weck Jars have such a great style. They hold 1/2 liter each (about 2 cups) making them perfect for smaller batches of pickles and other tasties.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (8)

This has been our house fish sauce for decades. Great stuff! We’ll use it to make ourdipping saucesas well as marinades.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (9)

100% all natural first press extra virgin Vietnamese fish sauce. One of the best craft fish sauce producers.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (10)

These are another of our favorite shapes of Weck Jars. A larger tulip shape, they hold 1 liter each (4 cups) making them perfect for bigger batches of pickles and other tasties.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (11)

Our house favorite hoisin sauce. Great flavor. We use it to make a dipping sauce for spring rolls.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (12)

Vietnamese Pickles with Carrot and Daikon Radish (Đồ Chua)

Yield: 10 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Pickle Time: 1 day d

Total Time: 1 day d 15 minutes mins

Pungent warning: These pickles will be more pungent/stinky the longer you brine them. You can eat them the next day, but if you want them more flavorful and crispy, brine them longer which also makes them more pungent! Taste the brine before you finish the final pickles. If you like your pickles more sweet, add a few teaspoons of sugar. Personalizing these pickles to your taste will make them extra special. I've tasted Vietnamese pickles from friends, family, restaurants and they're all different. Some are sweeter, tangier or saltier. Make them the way you want!

4.04 from 56 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. (227 g) carrots – julienned or cut into thin match-like strips
  • 1/2 lb. (227 g) daikon radish , cut same as carrots
  • 4 cups (1 l) water , slightly warm enough to dissolve the salt and sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) salt
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup (120-180 ml) distilled white vinegar or rice vinegar (or to taste)

Instructions

  • Prep carrots and daikon, set aside. In large pitcher or large bowl, mix water, vinegar *see note at end of step, sugar and salt until everything is dissolved and combined well. (Start with 1/2 cup of vinegar and taste the mixture. If you like it more tangy/vinegary, add few more vinegar to taste.)

  • Place carrots and daikon in a clean, sterile jar. Fill with vinegar mixture until carrots and daikon are completely covered in liquid.

  • Cover jars and set in the refrigerator to pickle for at least overnight. Our ideal timing is to let the pickles sit for 3 days before eating. Pickles can last for about 3 weeks in the fridge. I like my pickles to sit for at least 5 days so that the carrots and daikon become more flavorful and sour. They will definitely be more pungent. You can eat them the next day and they'll be less vinegary, and definitely less pungent.

  • Serve pickles in banh mi sandwiches, as a side dish or with a salad. There's so many differnet ways to enjoy these pickles.

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 27kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Sodium: 1420mg, Potassium: 124mg, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 3790IU, Vitamin C: 6.4mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Asian, Vietnamese

Calories: 27

Enjoy the pickles with Vietnamese Banh Mi Recipes Here.

Here’s my personal recipe for Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dip and click here for all our popular Vietnamese Recipes that are sometimes traditional and definitely sometimes not.Check out more Vietnamese Recipes Here.

Best Pickle Recipes

We really love pickles. If you’re pickle lovers like we are, check out more of our pickle recipes.

  • Curry Cauliflower Pickles
  • The best bread and butter pickles recipe EVER
  • Sweet pea and asparagus pickles
  • Quick pickled sugar snap peas with mint.
  • Here’s more great pickle recipe ideas for you.

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80 comments on “Vietnamese Pickles Carrots & Daikon , My Family Recipe”

  1. Jennifer April 20, 2023 @ 11:25 pm Reply

    I’ve always wanted to learn how to make these on my own. So glad I found this recipe.Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (21)

  2. JJ July 9, 2022 @ 6:24 am Reply

    Are you using a coarse kosher salt, pickling salt or more or a fine sea salt? I couldn’t tell from the vid.

    • Todd + Diane July 10, 2022 @ 10:33 pm Reply

      Hi JJ, we’re using regular kosher salt. Thanks for asking!

  3. Indira zephir June 5, 2022 @ 10:04 am Reply

    Thank u very much for this recipe I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and had Vietnamese Pancake it was delicious there was a pickle served with the salad After a lot of research i found out that white radish was used Thank u i will definitely be making some xx

    • Todd + Diane June 8, 2022 @ 8:16 am Reply

      Hi Indira, so glad you enjoyed the crispy Vietnamese Banh Xeo “crepe/pancake”. It’s definitely one of our favorites!

  4. Shin November 12, 2021 @ 6:48 am Reply

    Thank you so much for the recipe. I love eating Vietnamese spring rolls with pickled vegetables from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. I have been wanting to make it myself. Can’t wait to try your recipe.

  5. Kirsten July 4, 2021 @ 8:57 am Reply

    These are perfection!Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (22)

    • Todd + Diane July 4, 2021 @ 11:19 am Reply

      Thank you Kirsten!

  6. Ari May 30, 2021 @ 12:46 am Reply

    Hi there, it says 2 tablespoons of salt but in brackets 10ml which is 2 teaspoons. Could you please confirm if it’s 2 tablespoons or teaspoons? Thank you

    • Todd + Diane May 30, 2021 @ 7:27 am Reply

      Hi Ari,
      Thanks for catching that conversion glitch. It is 2 tablespoons of salt. It should have read 30ml.
      Hope you enjoy the family recipe!

  7. Maggie March 26, 2020 @ 6:46 pm Reply

    Looks like a great recipe!
    Just wondering if white vinegar can be used instead of distilled white vinegar?
    Seems it’s a bit hard to find distilled white vinegar.

    Would there be a big difference in taste if white vinegar was used instead?

    Thank you.

    • March 29, 2020 @ 11:32 am Reply

      Hi Maggie! Yes, you can use white vinegar for the recipe. White vinegar is a little more stronger than distilled white vinegar, so you might want to dilute it with a little bit more water. There’s not much flavor difference. The pickled daikons are pretty pungent, so that’s the smell and flavors you’ll be noticing first. 🙂 enjoy!

      • Maggie April 1, 2020 @ 11:07 pm

        Yay, thank you.
        And thank you for the tip. 🙂
        I will definitely give this recipe a try! I love pickled vegetables! 😀

  8. Lisa L February 5, 2020 @ 1:40 pm Reply

    I found this recipe a few years ago with your banh mi. I’ve made both so many times since then and always delicious! Thank you for sharing!Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (23)

  9. Ellie January 4, 2020 @ 3:21 pm Reply

    Great starting point! I add one or two thai chili peppers, a couple of whole white peppercorns, 3 whole cloves and 3 bruised cloves of garlic. I never remember the measurements for the sugar/salt/vinegar, which is why I came here.Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (24)

    • Gabrielle Falk November 6, 2022 @ 6:37 pm Reply

      Hi Ellie: Sounds yummy. Do you have exact quantities for the other ingredients that you are using? My husband would rather ‘die’ than eat these sorts of delicious foods, so the result will be interesting to taste, and will be ALL MINE. Thank You. Gabrielle from Sydney, Australia.

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Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (2024)

FAQs

Should I peel carrots before pickling? ›

The first step in making pickling carrots is to wash and peel them. In theory, you could pickle your carrots without peeling them. But unless the carrots are young and small, the skins can taste bitter, so I recommend peeling all but the smallest before pickling.

What is a pickled carrot called? ›

Common variations. In Mexico, pickled carrots are known as escabeche carrots. This variation is usually pickled in vinegar with onions, peppers, and spices. They maintain a crunchy, carrot texture with flavors of peppers and other seasonings. These spicy, pickled vegetables are traditionally served with a meal.

How long does pickled carrots last? ›

The flavors will deepen and intensify the longer it marinates. Best flavor is achieved after 24 hours. Will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks (sometimes longer). Not freezer friendly.

Are pickled carrots healthy? ›

Pickling: Full of good bacteria called Probiotics that aid in digestion and help our bodies break down and absorb all of carrots and daikon's wonderful nutrients! Healthy gut bacteria can even reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety while protecting our microbiome and supporting of new growth!

Do I have to blanch carrots before pickling them? ›

Do I have to cook carrots for pickling? For my pickled carrots, I do a quick blanch before adding to jars and processing in the water bath. This softens the carrots slightly and allows the pickle flavor to absorb better.

Why do you blanch carrots before pickling? ›

Blanch the Carrots First

Denser vegetables like asparagus, carrots, green beans, and beets absorb pickle brine better after they've had 30-60 seconds in a pot of boiling water. It's not required, but if you blanch denser vegetables first, it will help them take on the flavors of your brine.

What do you eat pickled carrots with? ›

I love adding chopped pickled carrots to a simple green salad for bold, bright flavor. Add them to a grain bowl. Try one of these rice bowl recipes, or build your own bowl with a grain, protein, fresh vegetables, and pickled carrot slices!

What is the pink pickled thing? ›

Beautiful pink pickled turnips are a staple in Middle Eastern kitchens. Perfectly vinegary, slightly sour, and subtly spicy, these crisp refrigerator pickles are easy to make in just 10 minutes. Simply brine, refrigerate, and let the magic happen.

What is the oldest pickled vegetable? ›

Pickles have been around for thousands of years, dating as far back as 2030 BC when cucumbers from their native India were pickled in the Tigris Valley. The word “pickle” comes from the Dutch pekel or northern German pókel, meaning “salt” or “brine,” two very important components in the pickling process.

Which is the best vinegar for pickling? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Do you have to boil vinegar for pickling? ›

No, there are other methods for pickling, including quick pickling and refrigerator pickling. But this pickling method does call for boiling the brine. This process helps bloom the flavors of the ingredients and help speed up the pickling process when it's added to the fresh vegetables or fruit.

Can I reuse pickle juice for carrots? ›

Not only can pickle brine, sometimes called pickle juice, be reused for pickling other vegetables, it also makes a great addition to other recipes.

What is the healthiest pickles to eat? ›

“The pickles that are beneficial for your gut health are the fermented ones, made by brining them in salt rather than vinegar,” says Dr. Oppezzo. “While vinegar pickling is a common method, true fermentation in brine enriches them with beneficial probiotics for your gut.

Is it OK to eat a pickle every day? ›

If you're on a low-sodium diet, pickles should not be consumed on a regular basis, says Zumpano. People with high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney or liver disease should only enjoy pickles as a once-in-a-while treat, says Largeman-Roth. Always talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

What is the healthiest pickled vegetable? ›

Pickled beets are a staple across many Eastern European countries, where they're served in salads or as a side dish, but they're also particularly popular in the US. They can be fermented or quick-pickled with vinegar, and they're a great source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, folate, and B vitamins.

Do you really need to peel carrots? ›

Because a carrot's skin isn't as thick as other root vegetables (like potatoes) or winter squashes, carrots are perfectly safe and delicious to eat without peeling so long as they are properly cleaned. When it comes down to it, peeling carrots or keeping the skin on is a matter of personal preference.

Do you peel carrots before storing in water? ›

To keep carrots their freshest and crunchiest, you only need to rethink how you store them. Keep them in an airtight container submerged in water, and you'll be a happy snacker. You can prep the carrots however you'd like, but the best way is to hold off on peeling the skin for the longest storage time.

Why are my pickled carrots soft? ›

It may be a normal reaction during fermentation caused by bacteria. If the pickles are soft, they are spoiled from the yeast fermentation. Don't use them. Using too weak a salt brine or vinegar solution may cause soft or slippery pickles, as can using moldy garlic or storing the pickles at too warm a temperature.

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