If you’re looking to add a pop of color and flavor to your dishes, this Colorful Sweet and Sour Pickled Radish recipe is exactly what you need. It’s easy to make and brings a perfect tangy twist to everything from tacos to salads. With this quick pickled radish recipe, you’ll have a tasty topping that’s vibrant and flavorful in no time.
I love this pickled radish recipe because it’s quick to make and adds a nice tangy flavor to many dishes. It’s one of those recipes I always keep on hand because it only takes a few minutes, and I can make it fresh and flavorful whenever I want.
It is excellent to serve with main dishes like air-fried chicken, chicken crack casserole, or chicken enchiladas casserole. You can also serve it with chicken pops like Five Spice or air fryer popcorn chicken.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Crunchy and Refreshing: These radish cubes stay perfectly crisp even after pickling, giving you that satisfying crunch with every bite. It’s a fresh, tangy snack that pairs well with many dishes.
- Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together fast with just a few steps and basic ingredients. No special tools are needed.
- Lasts for Weeks: Once pickled, these radishes can be stored in the fridge for weeks, meaning you’ll always have a tasty, sweet-and-sour side dish on hand when you need it.
Sweet Pickled Daikon Radishes
Daikon radishes are perfect for pickling because they have a mild flavor that perfectly soaks up the sweet and tangy brine. What I love most about pickled radishes is that they become sweet and tangy after pickling, and I pair them with almost every main dish I eat.
I made a Korean chicken mu pickled daikon, and I loved how it stayed crunchy, and so did my daughters. They even love eating them alone because of the perfect flavor.
How To Make The Brine Colorful?
Making the brine colorful is all about adding natural ingredients that change the color and add a bit of extra flavor.
For a pink hue, you can use beetroot liquid using rose water, which gives the radishes a vibrant color and a slightly earthy taste. Blueberry liquid is perfect for a purple shade, adding a subtle fruity note to your pickles.
These natural colorings make your pickled radishes taste good and look stunning on your plate.
How To Make Colorful Quick Pickled Radish Recipe
Let us start making our colorful pickled radish using a step-by-step process. Here, we will make our pink, purple, and white pickled daikon using a homemade brine with different flavors.
Kitchen Gadgets:
- Mason Jars: These are great for storing your pickled radishes. Make sure they are clean and dry before you start.
- Sharp Knife: Cut the radishes into even cubes using a sharp knife.
- Bowl: Use a bowl to mix your ingredients and prepare the brine.
Ingredients:
- Sweetener: You can use any sweetener you prefer if they are sugar-free.
- White Vinegar: Use white vinegar as the base of the pickling brine.
- Water: Dilute the vinegar so the mixture will not be too strong.
- Beetroot Liquid: Gives the radishes a beautiful pink color.
- Blueberry Liquid: This makes the perfect purple hue for the pickled radishes.
- Cubed Daikon: Use daikon radish because it has a mild taste that is perfect for pickling.
- Salt: To enhance the overall flavor.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
FULL INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEPS FOR MAKING EASY PICKLED RADISH
First Step: Prepare Ingredients
Start by preparing your raw radish. Wash, clean and peel thoroughly. Use a sharp knife to cut it into small cubes. This size is perfect for pickling and makes them easy to eat.
Second Step: Prepare Brine and Combine
Once the sliced radishes are prepared, make the brine. Divide the brine into three portions for the colorful pickled radish.
Combine white vinegar, water, sweetener, and salt in a bowl. Stir until the salt and sweetener have fully dissolved. Do the same for the other two mixtures and add the beetroot and blueberry liquid.
Once done, pour each brine over the radish cubes in separate jars.
Third Step: Finish and Store
After combining the pickling juice and the radish, cover the mason jars with a lid and refrigerate for a few days or at least a few hours.
TRICKS AND TIPS FOR MAKING QUICK PICKLED RADISH:
- Use clean jars: Always use sterilized jars to store your pickles, as this helps keep them fresh and prevents any unwanted bacteria from spoiling them.
- Shapes: For different shapes, use a mandolin.
- Adjust: You can customize the picking brine in any way you want. If you like it sweeter, add more sugar, and for more tang, increase the vinegar. This is an excellent tip if you are making a bunch of radishes for pickling.
- Extra Flavor: Add a few mustard seeds or peppercorns.
- Let it rest: For the best flavor, let the radishes pickle for at least 24 hours in the fridge because the longer they sit, the more tasty they become.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Substitute for White Vinegar?
You can use apple cider vinegar as a substitute if you do not have white vinegar at home. It will give your pickles a slightly different flavor but still be delicious. If you plan on using various kinds of vinegar, you might have to make some adjustments, like adding more sweetener or water to keep the taste balanced.
What to Serve With Colorful Radish Pickles?
There are some popular dishes to serve with these colorful radishes, and here are they:
- Tacos: The tangy pickled radishes add a bright crunch to tacos or crockpot taco soup, balancing the meaty and savory fillings—perfect for party snacks or a casual meal.
- Stir-Fry Chicken: Pairing pickled radishes with chicken stir fry creates a nice contrast. The crisp, sweet, and sour radish brings freshness to the dish.
- Chicken Roll-Ups: Add pickled radishes to chicken roll-ups for an extra flavor and crunch. They go great with the tender chicken, making it a must-try side for any chicken meal.
- Curry Chicken: The sweet and sour pickled radishes complement the spicy kick of homemade curry chicken. It’s a refreshing side that balances out the bold flavors of the curry.
- Salad: A good meal starter, like cucumber and red onion salad or kale salad with parmesan cheese, is a perfect recipe that this side could go with.
After your pickles are done, seal the jar tightly and keep it in the refrigerator for at least a week. I’ve stored pickled radish for longer, and it tastes great.
Refrain from freezing them because it is not recommended, as they can lose their crispness. They are best enjoyed fresh from the fridge.
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
Check out more easy side dishes that you can make for special occasions or even just a simple dinner party. Let me share our recipe guide on making cauliflower rice to make side dishes such as coconut cauliflower rice or oven-baked frozen cauliflower rice. They are best paired with savory meats.
Our crispy rutabaga fries are also a great side dish and will pass as a snack with buffalo chicken dip. These side dishes are all healthy and delicious.
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Colorful Sweet and Sour Pickled Radish
Equipment
- 1 Knife
Ingredients
Video
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and clean the raw radish, then cut it into small, even cubes so they pickle evenly and are easy to eat.
- Mix white vinegar, water, sweetener, and salt until fully dissolved, dividing the brine into three portions and adding beetroot and blueberry liquid to two of them. Pour each brine over the radish cubes in separate jars.
- Seal the jars and refrigerate for at least a few hours or up to several days to let the flavors develop.
Notes
- Use clean jars: Always use sterilized jars to store your pickles, as this helps keep them fresh and prevents any unwanted bacteria from spoiling them.
- Shapes: For different shapes, use a mandolin.
- Adjust: You can customize the picking brine in any way you want. If you like it sweeter, add more sugar, and for more tang, increase the vinegar. This is an excellent tip if you are making a bunch of radishes for pickling.
- Extra Flavor: Add a few mustard seeds or peppercorns.
- Let it rest: For the best flavor, let the radishes pickle for at least 24 hours in the fridge because the longer they sit, the more tasty they become.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
Chicken Recipes
As those pickles are best served with chicken, here are some great recipes you might enjoy.
