Description
Hot Honey Pickled Carrots are a vibrant and flavorful snack combining the natural sweetness of honey with the tang of apple cider vinegar and a spicy kick from red pepper flakes. This easy-to-make pickled carrot recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, ideal for a zesty appetizer, side dish, or topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
Pickling Liquid
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Instructions
- Prepare the Pickling Liquid: In a medium saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, honey, red pepper flakes, salt, black peppercorns, and smashed garlic cloves. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the honey and salt.
- Add Carrots to Simmering Liquid: Once the liquid is simmering, add the peeled and cut carrot sticks to the saucepan. Stir well to ensure all the carrots are evenly coated with the hot honey pickling liquid.
- Remove from Heat and Cool: Take the saucepan off the heat and allow the carrots and pickling liquid to cool for about 10 minutes. This helps the flavors infuse as the mixture comes to a safe handling temperature.
- Transfer to Container: Pour the carrots and their pickling liquid into a clean jar or airtight container, making sure the carrots are fully submerged in the liquid to preserve flavor and texture.
- Refrigerate to Develop Flavor: Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving. This resting period lets the sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors meld beautifully, resulting in deliciously pickled carrots.
Notes
- Use fresh, firm carrots for the best texture in pickles.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred heat level.
- Ensure carrots are fully submerged in the pickling liquid to prevent spoilage.
- These pickled carrots can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
- Try adding fresh herbs like dill or thyme for extra flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Pickles & Preserves
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pickled carrots, hot honey carrots, spicy pickled carrots, sweet and spicy pickles, easy pickled vegetables
