Sustainable Cooks
First Time Visiting? Start Here!

Quick Pickled Cauliflower {Spicy Pickled Cauliflower}

Quick Pickled Cauliflower is a fast and easy way to preserve this tasty and healthy vegetable! Enjoy this delicious and fast spicy pickled cauliflower without the hassle of canning.
a bowl of pickled cauliflower with red peppers and dill on a white board

Free Guide Get 14 Recipes You Can Make From Your Pantry

Quick Pickled Cauliflower is a fast and easy way to preserve this tasty and healthy vegetable! Enjoy this delicious and fast spicy pickled cauliflower without the hassle of canning. 

a bowl of pickled cauliflower with red peppers and dill on a white board

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Too much cauliflower is not an actual problem. You could always make Baked Cauliflower Patties or Air Fryer Cauliflower to use up any extra cauli.

But when you’re ready for something brand new, try your hand at making this incredibly easy quick-pickled cauliflower. Healthy and delicious veggies turned into fridge pickles might just be the best cauliflower invention ever.

Pickling veggies for snacks and garnishes is totally my jam. I um, also make jam too.

If fridge pickles are your cup of tea, you’ll love these Refrigerator Dilly Beans and Quick Pickled Beets.

What Are Fridge Pickles?

Are you guys ready for this? They’re pickles…that you keep in the fridge!

These pickled veggies are not safe to can, but they’re amazing to keep in the fridge for a quick snack, garnish, or addition to a bloody mary.

What Ingredients Are in Quick Pickled Cauliflower?

  • Cauliflower
  • Veggies in the house – garlic, onion, red pepper (optional)
  • Brine time – apple cider vinegar, white vinegar
  • Spices – red pepper flakes (optional), black peppercorns, dill
  • A wee pinch of sugar

If you have any leftover veggies, check out these posts on how to freeze cauliflower, how to freeze peppers, and how to freeze onions.

CAN I MAKE THESE WHOLE30/PALEO?

Yes! Just leave out the sugar. They will still be deeee-licious!

two photos showing the process of making pickled cauliflower

brine being poured into a jar for making pickled vegetables

HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO EAT Quick Pickled Cauliflower?

Allow the jars to sit in the fridge for a day or so before enjoying. They’re going to keep getting better and better the longer they sit!

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • The pickled cauliflower will keep in the fridge for 3-6 months.
  • You do not need to sterilize the jars as if you were going to can them. But do make sure they’re clean!
  • Make sure the cauliflower is covered with the brine during the pickling process. This will keep everything safe and edible.
  • Once you’ve finished the cauliflower, add some peeled hard-boiled eggs (related: Easy Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs) to the brine to make easy pickled eggs.
  • These are the white lids shown in these pictures. They’re not safe for canning, but work great for fridge pickles and I use them for dry goods storage (related: Pantry Essentials).

3 jars of pickled veggies

More Recipes You’ll Love

a bowl of pickled cauliflower with red peppers and dill on a white board
Print Recipe
3 from 2 ratings

Quick Pickled Cauliflower {Spicy Pickled Cauliflower}

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Resting Time12 hrs
Total Time12 hrs 20 mins
Quick Pickled Cauliflower is a fast and easy way to preserve this tasty and healthy vegetable! Enjoy this delicious and fast spicy pickled cauliflower without the hassle of canning.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz cauliflower
  • 4 sprigs dill
  • 1/2 tsp black peppercorns (divided)
  • 1/2 cup onion (diced)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • slices red pepper (optional)

Brine

Instructions

  • Wash and chop the cauliflower into florets. If the florets are large, I usually cut them in half.
    16 oz cauliflower

MAKE YOUR BRINE

  • In a saucepan, bring water, vinegar, salt, sugar, and garlic to a boil. Once it has boiled and the sugar has dissolved, reduce to a simmer and keep hot on the stove.
    1 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup water, 2 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 cloves garlic

MAKE THE Pickled Cauliflower

  • In your clean jars, place onion, peppercorns, and red pepper flakes in the bottom.
    1/2 tsp black peppercorns, 1/2 cup onion, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Add the cauliflower to the jars. Tuck some of the dill and sliced red pepper into the jar.
    4 sprigs dill, slices red pepper
  • Pour the brine over the cauliflower, put a lid on them and keep them on the counter for 12 hours. Transfer to the fridge.

Notes

Makes 3 pints of pickled cauliflower.
 
Optional seasonings - bay leaf, coriander or mustard seeds.
 
Leave out the sugar to make these Whole30 compliant, paleo, keto-friendly/low-carb.
Nutrition Facts
Quick Pickled Cauliflower {Spicy Pickled Cauliflower}
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 29 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 150mg7%
Potassium 137mg4%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 19mg23%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 comments on “Quick Pickled Cauliflower {Spicy Pickled Cauliflower}”

  1. You left my comment out about the extreme vinegar taste. How is that reflecting all comments? The recipe was simple and easy to make, but the vinegar content overpowered it. Maybe you could make suggestions as to not have that occur. I followed it exactly. If you don’t want people to see my honest comment, you could send me an e-mail.

    • Hi Rita, I go through my comments via batch work (I review and approve them all at once). I’m a small solo (it’s literally just me working on this site) business owner but also a parent and I was spending quality time with my family yesterday which was a Sunday.

      I only have a chance to check comments once every few days. Your comment was not left out, I just hadn’t gotten to it yet.

  2. This is a very simple recipe and we were hoping it would make delicious cauliflower, but all we tasted was the vinegar. It was overwhelming. I have been trying to fix it and added extra hot pepper flakes and garlic powder and coriander and then more water. Nothing fixes it. It is pure vinegar, maybe the apple cider vinegar. We followed the recipe exactly as written.1 star

    • I’m sorry to hear that this didn’t work for you. It’s been a family favorite for years, but I recognize that personal tastes will vary.
      Thank you for taking the time to leave valuable feedback.

  3. I am gonna make this tomorrow and so very excited about this recipe. Thank You So much, Will let you know how it turns out.

  4. If I want to can and leave in the cellar I can do this by adding the salt

  5. Can we make it with less salt?

  6. This is the shiizzzznit. So easy to make, and the taste is just perfect. Just enough heat, sweet and delicious pickle-y goodness. Your recipes are always so good, Sarah!

    Also, the best part? No one in my family likes pickled cauliflower but me 🙂 MINE MINE MINE.5 stars

  7. Cauliflower is my favorite, be still my heart!!!!!