Mexican Pickled Vegetables (Escabeche)

These Mexican pickled vegetables (also known as Escabeche) feature a blend of crispy carrots, jicama, onions, radishes, and jalapenos in a sweet-spicy, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro-infused brine. They're so fast and easy to make because there's no water bath canning required.

Just pour the brine over the vegetables and let them pickle in the refrigerator.

A few spoonfuls of Mexican pickled vegetables will take your tacos, burritos, and huevos rancheros (or plain old scrambled eggs) to a whole new level.

Why This Recipe Works

I make refrigerator-pickled vegetables A LOT in the summer, especially when local cucumbers, zucchini, and Hatch chilis are in season. But these Mexican pickled vegetables are perfect for making year 'round because carrots, jicama, onions, and radishes are always in season.

Adding some jalapenos, cilantro, and garlic to the brine turns these pickled vegetables into the most delicious condiment for tacos or any other Mexican dish. They're also delicious tossed into a salad for some sweet and spicy Southwest flavor.

The sweet and tangy pickling liquid makes pretty much anything you add to it taste like a fiesta.

I love this recipe because it's flexible. You can add more or less of any ingredients. It's also easy because it pickles in the refrigerator and it keeps for weeks.

Recipe Ingredients

Here's what I use to make Mexican Pickled Vegetables. Substitutions are listed in the next section.

Vinegar: I use a mix of white and apple cider vinegar for this recipe. Apple cider vinegar adds a bit of fruity sweetness and cuts the sharpness of white vinegar.

Salt and sugar: You need both in a vegetable pickling brine. They provide flavor and help maintain the freshness of the vegetables. Since this recipe must be kept in the refrigerator (it isn't shelf-stable), you can play around with less sugar or salt if you like.

Jicama: I love jicama for its health benefits and fresh, crispy crunch. It's also a great source of prebiotic fiber, which supports gut health. It's a little hard to peel and cut the whole jicama. To make things easier, look for jicama cut into sticks at the grocery store in the prepared produce department.

Jalapeno pepper: Jalapenos aren't super spicy, but they do provide a nice kick. I use one large jalapeno and remove most of the seeds and center membrane to make it less spicy. If you prefer more spice, use two peppers and/or leave the membranes.

Substitutions and Variations

You can easily add more or less of any of the vegetables to this recipe, depending on your taste and what you have available.

• If you can't find jicama, add more carrots and radishes. Cauliflower florets are also a great variation. I've also added shredded green cabbage, and it's delicious.
• You can use any type of onion for this recipe. I typically use a sweet onion, but regular yellow, white, or red onion work well too.
• If you don't like cilantro (I know many people who think it tastes like soap), leave it out and add a generous ½ teaspoon of ground cumin and 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds to the brine. The cumin will make the brine a little cloudy, but it's not harmful in any way.
• Instead of apple cider vinegar, you can use red wine or white wine vinegar.
• For a sugar-free version, you can experiment with Lakanto or Swerve sweetener. I have not personally tested it, but some readers have said that it works. These sweeteners might change the texture of your vegetables so that they're less crisp.
• You can also experiment with the way you cut the vegetables. I cut them into rounds (or sticks for the jicama) because I use these pickled vegetables most often on tacos, and I think that shape works well. If you want to enjoy them as an appetizer or snack, cut them into thicker plank pieces.

Step-By-Step Instructions

First, prepare the brine. Combine the vinegars, salt, sugar, and garlic cloves in a microwave-safe 4-cup measuring cup or glass bowl. I like to use a glass measuring cup because it's easier to pour the brine over the vegetables.

Microwave for 4-5 minutes or until it comes to a boil. If you prefer, you can use a saucepan and boil the brine on the stove. Stir it well to make sure the sugar and salt dissolve. Let the brine cool for about 15 minutes while you prepare the vegetables.

Second, cut the vegetables. If you're cutting them thin to use on tacos, a mandoline makes this super fast and easy. You could also use a sharp chef's knife.

Next, measure your vegetables. You should have a generous 4 cups (a little more is fine). Add more of any vegetable if you're short.

Fourth, mix the cut vegetables in a large mixing bowl and divide them into two quart-sized mason jars. You should have enough vegetables to fill each jar about ⅔ full.

Remove the garlic cloves from the brine and pour the hot brine over the vegetables in each jar. You should have enough brine to almost cover the vegetables. Use a spoon to push them down into the brine. They'll shrink down into the brine as they pickle. Add the cilantro to the top of the jar.

Cover the jars tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Expert Tips

The vegetables will absorb the pickling brine evenly if they are all cut to about the same thickness (that's why a mandoline is helpful).

I recommend removing the garlic before adding the brine to the vegetables, BUT it's not essential. Enzymes and compounds in garlic react with the acid in vinegar, causing the garlic cloves to turn blue. It's not dangerous or unhealthy, but it looks kind of odd. Also, I personally wouldn't want to accidentally bite into a whole garlic clove.

You can eat these in about three hours, but for the best flavor, let these vegetables sit for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator.

What to Eat with Mexican Pickled Vegetables

I adore these on grilled chicken tacos with toasted corn tortillas, sliced avocado, and a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

They're also delicious on top of:

• Nachos
• Mini enchilada casseroles
• Mexican tofu and black bean burritos
• Mexican rice and black beans
• Huevos rancheros
• Plain scrambled eggs

Recipe FAQs

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