Easy Hot Honey Pickled Carrots Recipe
This Easy Hot Honey Pickled Carrots recipe combines crunchy carrot sticks with a vibrant brine of apple cider vinegar, sweet honey, and a spicy kick from red pepper flakes. Enhanced with aromatic garlic and peppercorns, these pickled carrots are a flavorful, tangy snack or side that develops depth after a day in the fridge. Perfectly crisp and balanced between sweet, spicy, and tangy, they add a refreshing zing to any meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pickles & Preserves
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- 1 pound carrots (peeled and cut into sticks)
Pickling Brine
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon salt (kosher salt recommended)
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 cloves garlic (smashed)
Instructions
- Prepare the brine: In a medium saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar, honey, red pepper flakes, salt, black peppercorns, and smashed garlic cloves. Stir to mix all ingredients together thoroughly.
- Heat the mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir continuously until the honey and salt completely dissolve. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer without boiling, which helps meld the flavors.
- Add the carrots: Submerge the prepared carrot sticks directly into the hot brine in the saucepan. Stir gently to ensure every carrot stick is evenly coated with the spicy, sweet brine.
- Cool the mixture: Remove the pan from heat and leave it to cool on the counter for about 10 minutes. This cooling step preserves the carrots’ crisp texture while allowing the flavors to begin infusing.
- Jar and refrigerate: Transfer the carrots and brine carefully into a clean glass jar, making sure the carrots are fully submerged. Seal the jar tightly and refrigerate for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to fully develop and the carrots to pickle beautifully.
Notes
- Use peeled carrots for best texture and flavor absorption.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Ensure carrots are fully submerged in the brine to prevent spoilage.
- Pickled carrots can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
- Use kosher salt as recommended for best taste and pickling results.
Keywords: pickled carrots, hot honey carrots, spicy pickled vegetables, easy pickles, homemade pickled carrots, carrot sticks, preserved vegetables, apple cider vinegar pickles
Find it online: https://lucabites.com/easy-hot-honey-pickled-carrots-recipe/
