Here’s how to make quick pickled cauliflower! Add bell pepper, carrot and dill to make a colorful jar filled with tangy flavor.

Ever tried cauliflower…pickles? Yes, this vegetable works for everything from buffalo wings to r i ce to alfredo sauce. And you can include pickles in that list! This pickled cauliflower is full of bright, tangy flavor, with an herby essence from fresh dill and coriander seeds. Add bell pepper and carrots to make a colorful jar and they’re positively eye catching! We love cauliflower pickles because biting into a floret is an explosion of flavor. It’s almost even better than a dill pickle…we think. Here’s how to make them!

What are quick pickles?

This recipe for pickled cauliflower is a quick pickles recipe. What are quick pickles? Quick pickles are also known as refrigerator pickles: pickles that you store in the refrigerator. Here’s what to know about quick pickles:

No special equipment required. You don’t need any special canning equipment or fancy preserving gear for boiling jars to sterilize them.
Crisp, tangy flavor. Because you don’t have to boil the jars, the flavor is bright and tangy, and the texture is crisp.
Not shelf stable, so store in the refrigerator. You can store them refrigerated for up to 1 month: but ours don’t last that long.

Ingredients for pickled cauliflower

The basic idea for pickled cauliflower is this: make a brine solution and cover the vegetables, then refrigerate 24 hours! The brine is all about salty, tangy flavor with a hint of sweet. Here’s what you’ll need to pull it off:

Cauliflower
Carrots (optional)
Red bell pepper (optional; these add nice color but are not required)
Garlic
Fresh dill: for the best flavor! You can also substitute 2 teaspoons dill seeds if you can’t find fresh dill, but it’s usually easy to find.
Peppercorns & coriander seeds
Salt & sugar
White vinegar
2 quart mason jars with lids

Here’s how to make pickled cauliflower (the basic steps)

Got those ingredients? Then we’re ready to make pickles! Here’s what you need to know about the outline of the process:

Cut the vegetables & pack the jars. Here’s our favorite way to cut cauliflower. Slice the red pepper and carrot into thin strips, if you’re using them.
Make the brine. Dissolve the salt and sugar in the vinegar and water: it takes only 1 minute on the stove.
Pour in the brine. Then pour in the brine, tap them on the counter to release any air bubbles, and cap the lid.
Refrigerate 24 hours! That’s it! Then your pickled cauliflower is ready for munching.

Serving cauliflower pickles!

This pickled cauliflower is so good, it’s best eaten right out of the jar! We love snacking on it when we’re craving something salty: it’s a healthy alternative to most salty snacks. Here are a few other ways to serve these pickles:

Serve them on a cheese plate. Serve with various types of cheese, nuts, and crostini.
Add them to a Bloody Mary. They’re perfect for this cocktail! Try our Classic Bloody Mary or all these variations.
Chop it up and add it to a sandwich. Try it mixed into this Ultimate Tuna Salad Sandwich or Chickpea Salad Sandwich.

More cauliflower recipes

There are so many great ways to use cauliflower in recipes! While this vegetable used to be relegated to the veggie tray, today it’s used in all sorts of inventive ways. Here are some of our favorite cauliflower recipes to try:

Perfect Roasted Cauliflower The best way to cook cauliflower? Baked in the oven! This roasted cauliflower recipe makes it taste so irresistibly good, you can’t stop eating it.
Cauliflower Stir Fry This easy stir fry is an ideal healthy and easy dinner idea! It’s full of nutrients and covered in a punchy sauce.
Coconut Cauliflower Curry This easy dinner recipe is warm-spiced, nutrient packed, and ready in just over 30 minutes. Dinnertime win.
Creamy Cauliflower Sauce Like a healthy alfredo sauce using cauliflower as a base. It has less calories and all the benefits of this healthy veggie!
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower As irresistible as French fries, baked in a hot oven until browned and crisp.
Cauliflower Tacos A fan favorite! Starring crispy breaded cauliflower as a tasty taco filling, topped with Yum Yum sauce.

Perfect Roasted Cauliflower

Coconut Cauliflower Curry

Cauliflower Tacos with Yum Yum Sauce

Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

This pickled cauliflower recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.