Surprising But Delicious Pickling Recipes for Homegrown Fruit and Vegetables

by Erin Marissa Russell

Want to try pickling the fruit and vegetables you’ve grown in the garden this season? When plants are producing at maximum capacity, many gardeners turn to pickling as a way to store vegetables and even fruits for use in the kitchen year-round.

Don’t let traditional ideas about what “should” be pickled hold you back. This handy technique is suited for far more than making dill pickles and hot pickled okra. The recipes below will show you traditional and creative methods for pickling all kinds of garden-fresh produce.

Once you’ve got the recipe down and know the procedure, you can customize your pickling project to suit the fruit and veggies you’ve grown in your garden and the flavors your family craves. First we’ll cover the basics, then we’ll show you some unique pickling recipes that will help you make the most of your garden’s harvest.

Here’s the Traditional Method for Pickling Just About Anything You Grow

The basics of pickling are a one-size-fits-all template. Once you’ve mastered the recipe and the steps to follow, you can apply them to preserve any of the fruit or vegetables you’ve grown using the pickling process.

The traditional method explained here does require a hot water bath, so if you’re looking for the fastest technique, skip to the next section on quick pickling. However, be advised that taking just 10 or 15 minutes to heat up your jars when you’re canning them makes pickles that stay crisp and delicious for up to a year. Compare that to the two months quick pickles can be stored in the fridge, and investing the prep time now makes a lot of sense.

For traditional pickling, gather the following supplies.

• A pot made just for canning with a fitted rack—or a large stock pot
• Something to separate the cans from the bottom of the pot, like a cooling rack or aluminum foil
• Quart-sized or pint-sized jars, complete with their lids
• The fruit or vegetables you want to pickle, chopped as desired—about three pounds per batch
• Two cups water
• Two cups white vinegar
• Two tablespoons pickling salt
• A safe surface to place hot jars after the hot water bath, such as a kitchen counter protected with a folded kitchen towel or a wooden cutting board (not directly on stone or marble)
• Jar lifter for canning or another tool for removing hot jars from the pot, such as tongs
• Thin spatula, ruler, or butter knife to release air bubbles from jars
• Rings or vacuum lids
• (Optional) Peeled garlic cloves—one per jar
• (Optional) Dill—Three to four fresh sprigs or one teaspoon of seeds
• (Optional) Whole seasonings, such as allspice berries, black peppercorns, cloves, caraway, coriander, cumin, dried chiles, fresh peppers, ginger, marjoram, mustard seeds, oregano, rosemary, smoked paprika, thyme, or turmeric—u

Then follow the steps outlined in this pickling how-to by Epicurious.

Speed Things Up with Quick Pickled Fruit and Vegetables

Quick pickles don’t last nearly as long in the fridge as the traditional pickles we explained above. However, if your family loves pickles, you may find they’re getting eaten so quickly that long-term storage isn’t part of the equation. Also, quick pickles tend to be crisper than those that were boiled during preparation, and some people prefer the firmer texture.

The preparation here will net you two wide-mouthed pint jars of pickles. First, make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need.

• About one pound of fruit or vegetables for pickling
• One cup of vinegar
• One cup of water
• Two teaspoons pickling salt or one tablespoon kosher salt
• (Optional) Whole, smashed, or sliced peeled garlic cloves—about two per batch
• (Optional) Dill—Three to four fresh sprigs or one teaspoon of seeds
• (Optional) Whole spices and other fresh flavorings, such as allspice berries, black peppercorns, cloves, caraway, coriander, cumin, dried chiles, fresh peppers, ginger, marjoram, mustard seeds, oregano, rosemary, smoked paprika, thyme, or turmeric—One and a half teaspoons of whole spices per pint jar or one tablespoon per quart jar
• (Optional) Granulated sugar—one teaspoon

Wash the jars and their lids in hot, soapy water, then allow them to dry. Use equal parts vinegar and water to create the base for your brine. Next, wash and dry your produce, then chop is as desired for pickling. Add your seasonings to the jars, then add the fruit or vegetables. Leave at least half an inch between the top of your produce and the rim of the jars.

Heat the vinegar, water, salt, and optional sugar for the brine to boiling. Pour the hot brine into the jars, leaving the half inch of space empty. Tap the jars against the work surface to dislodge any air bubbles. Secure the lids tightly onto the jars.

Allow the pickles to come to room temperature, then store in the refrigerator. For best results, give them at least 48 hours before cracking open a jar. Quick pickles will last for up to two months in the refrigerator.

Expand Your Horizons With These Imaginative Pickling Recipes for Cucumbers

There’s more to pickled cucumbers than dill and garlic. The recipes below should expand your horizons in the kitchen and give you plenty of ways to pickle the cucumbers you grow. In addition to being a pantry staple, pickled cucumbers (or any type of pickle, really) will make a great gift no matter the season.

AllRecipes’ Cucumber Sunomono

Bon Appetit’s Spicy Lightly Pickled Cucumbers

Deep South Dish’s Million Dollar Sweet Pickle Relish

Food52’s Thai-Style Spicy Cucumber Relish

FoodieCrush’s Sweet and Sour Asian Pickled Cucumbers

My Korean Kitchen’s Cucumber Pickles with Lemon

Serious Eats’ Sweet and Spicy Pickle Relish

Taste of Home’s Bread and Butter Pickles

The Woks of Life’s Chinese Pickled Cucumbers

Tornadough Alli’s Kool Aid Pickles

Tyler Florence’s Pickled Cucumbers and Red Onion on Food Network

Vegan Miam’s Tiawanese-Style Pickled Cucumbers

Lock in the Flavor of Homegrown Root Vegetables with Pickling

Most of us have encountered a jar of pickled pearl onions as part of a cocktail spread or cloves cloves of peeled pickled garlic at the supermarket deli. However, these standbys aren’t the end of the line when it comes to pickled root vegetables. The recipes listed here will show you how to pickle just about any root veggie your garden produces.

Angela Brown’s Pickled Fennel with Orange Zest on Food52

Bon Appetit’s Pickled Whole Shallots

Budget Bytes’ How to Make Pickled Red Onions

Cookie and Kate’s Spicy Quick Pickled Radishes

Culinary Gingers English Pickled Pearl Onions

Culinary Hill’s Pickled Garlic

Epicurious’ Pink Pickled Turnips

Healthy Seasonal Recipes’ Ginger Pickled Carrots

Just One Cookbook’s Pickled Daikon

Saveur’s Vermouth-Spiked Cocktail Onions

Simple Bites’ Quick Pickled Carrot Spears

Simply Delicious’ Easy Pickled Radishes

Taste of Home’s Pickled Beets

Give Homegrown Brassicas Some Bite with These Pickling Recipes

Brassica vegetables have a depth of flavor that lends itself to vibrant seasonings, and their sturdy texture makes them a natural for pickling preparations. Brassicas from your garden may include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, or Romanesco. From familiar flavor profiles like sauerkraut for pickled cabbage to new ones such as pickled Brussels sprouts or kohlrabi, pickled brassicas are sure to please the palate.

Bon Appetit’s Kohlrabi Pickles with Chili Oil

Cooking on the Weekends’ Spicy Quick Pickled Broccoli

Edible Perspective’s Quick Pickled Cabbage

Food.com’s Pickled Greens

Garden Betty’s Quick Pickled Kohlrabi Slaw

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook’s Pickled Cauliflower, Italian Style

Serious Eats’ Lemony Pickled Cauliflower

Southern Living’s Traditional Quick-Pickled Brussels Sprouts

Tori Avey’s Curry Pickled Cauliflower

Make the Most of Garden Beans and Peas with These Pickle Recipes

Beans and peas are a natural choice when you’re looking for produce to pickle due to their crisp texture and handy snackable shape. Dilly beans (dill-flavored green beans) are the best known in this category, but as you can see, there are plenty of pickled beans and peas to choose from.

Cooking Channel’s Pickled Long Beans

Emeril Lagasse’s Lemon Rosemary Pickled Green Beans

Feasting At Home’s Marinated Fava Beans

Homesick Texan’s Pickled Black-Eyed Peas

Serious Eats’ Pickled Spring Peas

Smitten Kitchen’s Pickled Sugar Snap Peas

Sur La Table’s Pickled Yellow Wax Beans with Fresh Dill

TheKitchn’s How to Make Dilly Beans

The Splendid Table’s Spicy Pickled Green Beans

Town & Country Markets’ Quick Asian-Style Pickled Beans

Don’t Forget the Nightshades When You’re Pickling Veggies from the Garden

The nightshade family includes the garden favorites of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, okra, and eggplant. Nightshades can become a favorite when it comes to pickling as well. Though they’re not the first pickles that spring to mind, these veggies can round out a summer dinner with the best of them.

Christina’s Cucina’s Pickled Eggplant (Pickled Aubergines)

Food52’s How to Pickle Potatoes

Food & Wine’s Pickled Farm-Stand Tomatoes with Jalapenos

Gimme Delicious’ Quick 10-Minute Pickled Jalapenos

Happy Kitchen’s Russian Grandma’s Pickled Tomatoes

Homesick Texan’s Spicy Pickled Okra

Love & Olive Oil’s Pickled Green Tomatoes

Mexican Please’s Pickled Tomatillos

TheKitchn’s How to Pickle Cherry Tomatoes

The Roasted Root’s How to Make Pickled Peppers

The Spruce Eats’ Italian-Style Pickled Eggplant (Melanzane Sott’aceto)

Balance Sour with Sweet When You Pickle Homegrown Fruit

Fruit is probably the farthest thing from your mind when you’re dreaming of making homemade pickles from the garden. There’s really no reason to limit yourself to pickling veggies, though. Pickled fruit is a part of cuisines the world over, from Japan’s ubiquitous pickled plums to the pickled watermelon rind and peaches enjoyed in the American South. The combination of sour and sweet is a surefire winner, so take a look at the recipes below to make pickled fruit part of your canning routine.

AllRecipe’s Nana’s Southern Pickled Peaches

Bon Appetit’s Pickled Pears

Chatelaine’s How to Make Pickled Apples

Cooking Light’s How to Make—and Use—Pickled Strawberries

Dishing Out Health’s Quick Pickled Figs

Epicurious’ Pickled Blackberries

Food52’s Pickled Prunes

Food & Wine’s Salty-Sweet Spiced Pickled Plums

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook’s Pickled Blueberries

Just a Pinch Recipes’ Hawaiian Style Pickled Mango

Running to the Kitchen’s Spicy Pickled Pineapple

Saveur’s Pickled Cranberries

Taste of Home’s Watermelon Rind Pickles

The Curious Chickpea’s Quick Pickled Grapes

Savor Your Homegrown Fruit and Veggies with More Pickling Recipes

There are so many great recipes for pickling out there that lots of them just didn’t fit into any of the categories so far. From veggies that fell outside of the previous lists to combinations that mix and match produce from different parts of the garden, these final recipes should round out your pickling repertoire.

AllRecipes’ Grandma Oma’s Pickled Okra

Bowl of Delicious’ Spicy Cajun Pickled Green Beans and Carrot

Cooking Light’s Kohlrabi and Apple Quick Pickles

Epicurious’ Pickled Collard Greens with Pineapple

Food52’s Pickled Corn

Food Network’s Pickled Celery Relish

GermanFoods.org’s Sweet and Sour Pickled Pumpkin

Spend With Pennies’ Pickled Asparagus

The Daring Gourmet’s Best Homemade Giardiniera (Hot or Mild)

The Pioneer Woman’s How to Make Pickled Ginger

Pickling the produce you preserve adds variety to a cupboard full of other garden treats, both fresh fruit and veggies and those prepped for long-term storage. Use your jars of pickles in combination with homemade condiments like salsa and other sauces, jams, jellies, and homegrown canned fruit and vegetables. Giving your harvest the pickle treatment is quick and easy, and the tasty relishes and homemade treats you’ll create will jazz up snacks and meals for months to come.

If you didn’t see the pickles you’ve been dreaming of listed, never fear. You can use the basic pickling techniques we covered (both the traditional canning method and the simpler quick pickling method) to prepare pickles from any kind of produce you can imagine. What are some of your favorite pickle recipes or seasoning blends? Let us know in the comments.

Want to know more about pickling recipes for homegrown fruit and vegetables?

BON APPÉTIT covers Yes, You Can Pickle That

BRIT + CO covers We Can Pickle That: 19 Briny Recipes

Eating Well covers How to Pickle Anything

Good Housekeeping covers Surprising Things You Can Pickle

HGTV covers Pickle It

Serious Eats covers Pickling Recipes

The Kitchn covers How to Pickle Any Vegetable