Name: Pickled Turnips - Middle Eastern Pink Pickles Recipe
Prep time: PT-481375H43M
Total time: 72 h 10 min
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 1 lb turnips, trimmed, peeled; 1 cup filtered or bottled water; 3 tbsp Diamond Crystal Kosher salt ( if using Morton's Kosher salt or table salt use 1.5 tbsp); 1/3 cup white vinegar; 1 clove of garlic thinly sliced; 1 small beet, washed and quartered

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Pink pickled turnips are vibrant and tangy. Their stunning hot pink color comes from adding beets to the pickling jar, no artificial colors here! These pickles, with their beautiful color and sharp flavor, are a Middle Eastern staple. Enjoy them with a falafel sandwich, sabich sandwich, Mediterranean vegan Sandwich, and Shawarma tacos. Add them to a hummus board, rice bowl ,or baba ganoush.

CLose up view of a glass bowl with pink turnip pickles

Why You'll Love This Recipe

If you’re a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, it's a delicious staple.
Tangy flavor and gorgeous pink color
They'll add a bold punch of flavor to your meals, place a bowl on your dinner table, and watch them vanish, they are that good!
They are a great low-calorie healthy snack.
You can easily make them at home.
A great new and delicious way to enjoy pickles
Quick and easy to prepare

What Are Turnips?

Turnips are a root vegetable that is part of the cabbage and broccoli family. They have a distinct flavor and are often added to soups. When pickled, they develop a tangy flavor and a savory crunch.

overhead image of a whole turnip next to a sliced turnip, a whole beet next to a diced beet, and a whole garlic clove next to a minced garlic. The ingredients are all together on a wooden cutting board.

Ingredients

Turnips: They retain a satisfying crunch once pickled.
Filtered or bottled water: Avoids any off-flavors from tap water.
Kosher salt: We used Diamon Crystal Kosher salt which dissolved faster and es less salty than Morton's Kosher salt or table salt. If using table salt or Mortons, use half the amount.
White vinegar: Provides the necessary acidity for pickling, without adding any flavor giving the turnip a sharp, tangy flavor.
Garlic: Adds a mild, aromatic depth to the pickles without overpowering the other flavors.
Beet: The key to achieving the pickles’ beautiful pink hue.

How to Make Pink Pickled Turnips

First, get your turnips ready. Trim and peel them, then cut them into thin matchsticks. This shape helps the turnips absorb the brine more efficiently.
Next, take a small beet and cut it into quarters. This will give the pickles their signature pink hue. It’s like adding a natural dye to your jar!
Grab a clean and dry glass jar. Start layering your turnips and beets inside.

chopped turnips, beets, and garlic in a large glass jar with a liquid measuring cup in the background.

For the brine, mix filtered or bottled water with kosher salt until the salt dissolves completely. Then, add white vinegar to the mix. This combination creates the perfect pickling solution.
Pour the brine over your turnips and beets in the jar, making sure everything is fully submerged. If you need to, press down on the veggies to squeeze in as many as possible.

chopped turnips, beets, and garlic in a large glass jar. A liquid measuring cup is pouring clear brining liquid into the glass jar.

Once your jar is filled with the brine, seal it tightly. Give it a few gentle flips to ensure the brine is evenly distributed. Then, let it sit on your kitchen counter for a day. This helps start the pickling process.

a large glass jar filled with chopped turnips, beets, and garlic covered in brining liquid sealed with a black lid.

Move your jar to the refrigerator, wait two days and your pink pickles will be ready to eat! Store them in the fridge until the jar is empty. Discard the pickling juice and start all over again.

Serving Suggestions

These pink pickled turnips pair beautifully with Middle Eastern dishes like a falafel bowl, mujadara, shakshuka, hummus toast, and tabouli, Their tangy flavor and beautiful color make them a great way to elevate any meal.

More Pickle Recipes You'll Love

turnip pink pickles in a bowl and in a jar

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