Pickled Cauliflower - this pickled cauliflower is so good! Crisp and tart, it goes well on salads and makes an delicious addition to an appetizer tray! Cauliflower, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, bell and/or hot peppers, white wine vinegar, and pickling salt!
Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on side bar.
Click here to pin this Easy Homemade Pickled Cauliflower now!
Pickling Vegetables
Have you discovered the joys of pickling? I don't just mean the book, The Joy of Pickling: 250 Flavor-Packed Recipes for Vegetables and More from Garden or Market - though that is the book that I found this recipe in. I'm talking about pickling in general.
It is by far my most favorite way to preserve veggies. It's so easy and the results are always stellar. I remember when I used to think pickles meant ... well ... pickles. You know those green ones that come in either sour dill or sweet.
I never realized that there are a world of pickles out there. You can pickle practically any vegetable you can think of.
Pickled Cauliflower
Like cauliflower for example. Who knew pickled cauliflower could be so yummy?! I love having a jar of these pickles in the fridge. They are great on an antipasto platter, or on salads, or I like to eat them just like you would a standard pickle, a little bit on the side while eating a sandwich and chips.
They get a subtle spice from the cumin and coriander (I didn't have any fennel) and the hot peppers give them a pleasant amount of heat. Plus they are so easy. Once you start pickling, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Water Bath Canning vs Quick Pickling
The recipe below is for water bath canning the pickles. If you aren't familiar with water bath canning, I talk about it in greater detail in these Simply Good Dill Pickles. Water bath canning allows you to keep the jars in your pantry, they don't have to be refrigerated until after they are opened.
Quick pickles - like Quick Pickled Asparagus, Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles and Quick Pickled Onions need to be kept refrigerated.
To turn this recipe into a quick pickle, bruise the whole seeds a bit, a mortal and pestle is great for this, before adding to the jar. This allows them to release their flavor a little faster. Follow the rest of the instructions, except instead of canning, store them directly in the fridge. They will keep in the fridge for 2-4 months.
Pickled Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
- 2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
- 2 teaspoons whole fennel seeds I omitted
- 7 cups cauliflower divided into small florets
- 1 cup bell peppers or mixed sweet and hot red peppers
- 2 cups white wine vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons pickling salt
Instructions
- Process 4 pint mason jars and lids per canning instructions (from a canning book). Put ¼ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon each of coriander and fennel in to each of the 4 pint jars. Toss the cauliflower and the peppers together and pack them tightly into the jars.
- In a nonreactive pan, bring the vinegar, water, and salt to a boil. Pour the liquid over the cauliflower, leaving ½ inch headspace. Close the jars with two piece lids and process the jars for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath (again use a canning book for complete instructions).
- Store the jars in a cool, dry, dark place for at least 3 weeks before eating. After opening store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Don't forget you can sign up to receive an email when a new post goes live! The best part is you can check to receive all updates or just your favorite parts of the blog! Maybe you only like recipes or just want to see my adorable cats, I've got you covered!
Click here to sign up to receive email updates!
Update Notes: This was originally published in 2014 and has been updated for 2018.
Bunny says
Can I possibly use ground cumin I can find seed cumin
Pam Greer says
It would change the color and I wouldn't use as much. You could also just omit the cumin seed.
KalynsKitchen says
Just letting you know that over the weekend I featured this recipe in my monthly Deliciously Healthy Low-Carb Recipes round-up. I hope a lot of my readers will click over and try the recipe! And Happy New Year!
Pam Greer says
Thanks Kalyn! I'll go check out your post!
Miz Helen says
Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe with our special edition of Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are enjoying your holidays and look forward to seeing you soon!
Miz Helen
Lou Lou Girls says
Hello cute lady! I bet this little gem made a lot of people happy! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. We love to party with you! Lou Lou Girls
Pam Greer says
Thanks!! I'll see you tonight at the linky party!
Edible Celebrations (@lavesta) says
I think I've enjoyed cauliflower every which way there is Pam. But, I don't think I've ever had pickled cauliflower besides the kind you get in those jars of pickled veggies at the grocery store. I have a feeling if I tasted this cauliflower I would definitely be asking myself why not sooner, lol...
Thanks for sharing, Pam...A very Merry Christmas to You and Yours Pam!!!
Pam Greer says
Merry Christmas to you too!
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
what a great idea!
Marjie says
And it's so pretty, too! You're really doing a lot of creative cooking now that you're not teaching. Merry Christmas, Pam.
Lynda Bergman says
Hi Pam, this looks so good. I would love this as a low calorie snack. Merry Christmas!
Joanne says
I have never thought to pickle cauliflower! Love the spices you used in this. Sounds super tasty.