Pickled Garden Vegetables

The stealth ingredient in this crunchy blend of carrots, radishes and cucumbers is mushroom broth, made by steeping dried porcini mushrooms in steaming hot water. The earthy flavor adds fantastic depth to the tangy pickles. Slideshow:  How to Make Pickles 

Pickled Garden Vegetables
Photo: © Chris Court
Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
4 hrs
Yield:
Makes 3 1/2 cups
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound tender young carrots, tops removed and carrots halved lengthwise

  • 12 radishes, thinly sliced

  • 2 large Kirby cucumbers, thinly sliced

  • 3 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt

  • 1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms

  • 1 1/2 cups boiling water

  • 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar

  • 1 garlic clove, crushed

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions

  1. In a large colander set in a bowl, toss the carrots, radishes and cucumbers with 2 tablespoons of the salt. Let stand for 30 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, in a heatproof medium bowl, cover the porcini with the boiling water and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

  3. Strain the porcini broth through a fine sieve into a large bowl. Squeeze the mushrooms dry and reserve them for another use. Add the vinegar, garlic, sugar and the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt to the porcini broth and whisk until the sugar and salt dissolve. Rinse the vegetables and squeeze them dry, then add to the porcini brine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Drain the pickled vegetables and serve.

Make Ahead

The drained pickles can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Originally appeared: July 2014

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