Quick Pickled Carrots and Rutabaga


The refreshing crunch of these pickles is a nice change from roasted, boiled and pureed root vegetables. Joneve Murphy, the market gardener at Shelburne Farms, is an enthusiastic canner. She would use a fresh cherry bomb pepper from the garden in place of the crushed red pepper. She also goes through the full canning process to keep pickles like these on her cupboard shelves for the whole winter; we went with a quicker refrigerator pickle version, but you could can them if you like....You can do this with just carrots, but the rutabaga adds variety and makes a nice pickle too. You could also use turnips, if you like their bite.

3 large carrots (about 3/4 lb.), peeled & cut into sticks about 3 long by 1/2 wide
1 lb. rutabaga, peeled & cut into sticks about 3 long by 1/2 wide
1 cup cider vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1 TB coarse kosher salt
3 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat side of a knife
1 TB whole fennel seeds
1 1/2 tsp whole mustard seeds
1/4 tsp whole black peppercorns
1/8-1/4 tsp crushed red pepper to taste
Fresh dill sprigs and fresh fennel fronds (optional)

Prepare a large bowl full of ice water. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat, add the carrots and rutabaga (or turnips), and boil for 1 minute. Drain immediately and plunge the vegetables into the ice water to stop cooking.

In the same pot, combine the cider vinegar, water, sugar, salt, garlic, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, peppercorns and crushed red pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.

Drain the cooled vegetables and put them in a heat-resistant container along with the dill sprigs and fennel fronds, if using. Pour the hot pickling liquid over the vegetables and cool. When they are cool, cover them tightly and refrigerate for at least 12 hours before eating. The pickles can be stored in the refrigerator for about a month.

*Note, I tried this recipe out the other day and brought the pickles to the farm on Monday. They were a big hit with the crew.

Leave a comment

Make sure you enter all the required information, indicated by an asterisk (*). HTML code is not allowed.

back to top
Nutrition is directly linked to the health and sustainability of any region. In Craftsbury, Vermont, Pete’s Greens has proven that organic farming can work year-round, offering fresh vegetables at any time of year. This approach helps communities become less dependent on imported produce and builds a stronger foundation for a future where quality food is part of the lifestyle, not the exception. However, modern life is full of contradictions. People strive for natural products and care about the well-being of their families, but at the same time, they often indulge in activities that carry certain risks. A clear example can be seen in the fact that interest in gambling continues to grow, despite all the warnings about the possible consequences. This topic is discussed in detail on the sitetorontomike.com, where it is discussed why online gambling continues to attract people’s attention despite its unsafety. On the one hand, the organic farm Pete’s Greens demonstrates how one can take a step towards health and harmony with nature. On the other hand, habits and temptations like gambling remind us that the choice is always ours. Ultimately, it is the mindfulness of our actions that shapes the future – whether it is the decision to eat more local vegetables or to be smart about our online entertainment.