Pickled Daikon

My easy Pickled Daikon is a delicious accompaniment to so many dishes. Its crisp, mild texture is perfectly complemented by the tangy and slightly sweet pickling liquid.

Why we love this recipe:

If you’re new to pickled vegetables, this recipe is ideal for you.  The pickles are incredibly easy to make.  

Pickles such as these are traditionally served in many Asian countries with meals. Their flavour is tangy and yet slightly sweet with a deliciously crunchy texture.

They are quickly and easily prepared and they are versatile in the ways in which they can be served.

Although I enjoy the traditional way in which these pickles are eaten, I have discovered they lend themselves to being used in other ways.

For instance, at a drinks party, a plate of these served with other nibbles will disappear very quickly. As well, they lend themselves to being served with an Asian inspired rice bowl or added to a pulled pork sandwich.

What is a daikon?

Daikon is a radish.  It is a member of the brassica family along with cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and turnips. You may also know it as Japanese radish, Chinese radish and winter radish.

Daikon is a root vegetable that resembles a large, white carrot. It can be cooked, eaten raw or, as here, pickled.

Their flavour is slightly sweet but they are mild, without the pepperiness of the red radish varieties.

You may have seen them in Japanese restaurants served finely shredded alongside sushi or sashimi.

How to select a Daikon:

Although available year-round, like other root vegetables they are at their best in winter.

When purchasing daikon, select those that feel heavy for their size and have smooth, unblemished skin. The skin should be as white as possible.  Avoid those with spots, bruises or wrinkles.

They can be eaten raw in salads, cooked by boiling, baking or stir-frying, or use them in quick pickles.

Really, you can use them any way that you would use a carrot.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Daikon – use the freshest produce you can find when preparing pickles and preserves. The Daikon is a type of radish, and has a delicious crunchy texture.

Rice Wine Vinegar – a delicately flavoured, slightly sweet vinegar, perfect for pickling, especially in Asian preparations.

Water – it is essential to use filtered/un-chlorinated water when pickling or preserving. (You don’t want the bad taste of the water to affect the final product!)

Sugar – I have used regular white sugar in this recipe. You could also use caster/superfine sugar.

Salt – ensure you use cooking salt or sea salt, as regular table salt may contain caking agents and is much stronger. 

Long Red Chilli – this is optional but adds an extra depth of flavour to the pickling liquid.

Step by Step instructions:

Start by sterilising your jar or jars (see how to do this below).

1. Peel your daikon.
2. Thinly slice.
3. Prepare your pickling brine.
4. Add the daikon slices, and allow to sit for five minutes before putting in a jar.

Tips for success and FAQs:

When making your own pickles and preserves, always ensure you are sterilising the jars you will store them in. This is very simple to do:

• Choose glass jars with an airtight, metal lid and ensure they have been washed by hand in hot soapy water then rinsed well.
• Check that the metal lids do not have rubber inserts.
• Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C (270 F) and leave the jars for 15-20 minutes.

More delicious preserve recipes for you to try:

Once you start making your own preserves and pickles, it is hard to go back to store-bought!

Try these recipes also for more inspiration:

• Preserved Chillies in Oil
• Japanese Pickled Ginger (Gari)
• Dill Pickled Cucumbers
• Apricot Jam
• Plum Jam
• Fresh Peach Chutney
• Sweet Chilli Sauce
• Balsamic Glaze
• Homemade Jalapenos
• Beetroot Pickled Turnips

I hope you’ll love this Pickled Daikon recipe. If you try it, or have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you!

Alex xx