Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

This Vietnamese Pickles recipeis my go-to for so many dishes. Everyone knows that a family recipe is a special one, with special nuances and flavors unique to ones family history and story. My Vietnamese banh mi pickles are less sweet than most recipes, yet simple and delicious.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (1)

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe

I never feel as if one family recipe is ever “better” than another. Each one is different and wonderful on it’s own merits because of what it has meant to those who made it over generations. And for those who grew up eating favorite family recipes, the flavors and comfort these dishes bring are priceless.

My Vietnamese recipes are usually rooted in family tradition, reflective of where I was born and the birthplace of my ancestors. Grandparents hailed from the Northern Viet-nam and escaped the Communist regime to Central Vietnam during the war. Family stories that were passed down from my elders who had survived the wars. Accompanied with each memory was a recipe that was a window to the past, a reflection of their lives back before I was even born.

Video: Vietnamese Pickles Recipe

My Inspiration: Mom’s Pickles

I always consider my Mom to be the queen of Vietnamese pickles. When mom gives a gift of love to those she cares for, I can almost guarantee that it would be in the form of pickles. And of course, all made from the heart.Her delicate touch and emphasis on fresh crunch in each jar of her pickles was passed down from my Maternal Grandmother. If you were to taste the pickles, you would know it’s brined in my family tradition and regional flair.

My Vietnamese Pickles Recipe is Less Sweet

The Vietnamese carrot daikon pickles I grew up with weren’t too sweet and more on the salty side. My father grew up in Northern Vietnam, where the foods were more subtle, less fiery and sweet than their Southern counterparts. When Dad would see Mom pickle huge jars of vegetables for her nail shop ladies (most of which grew up cooking in the sweet South), he was always remind her to “not to add too much sugar”!Over the years I’ve modified my Vietnamese carrot daikon pickles family recipe and found a balance that fit my eating lifestyle the most. I do love the salty brine of pickles, but am appreciating more of the slightly sweet balance in my pickles. This recipe is a reflection of both flavors.

You can cut the carrots and pickles thinly with a knife. It does take a little longer and sometimes inconsistent. To make these pickles super easy and quick, we use our favorite tool. It’s the julienne tool that cuts carrots so fast. More info here: OXO Julienne Tool

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (2)
Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (3)
Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (4)

Easy Vietnamese Pickles for Banh Mi

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (5)

I always grew up eating is Vietnamese pickled carrots and daikon radish and they’ve become a staple in my pantry. These Vietnamese carrot daikon pickles or (do chua) are most well known for making appearances in Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. But I know them just as do chua and eat them with rice, noodles and spring rolls.

Chose your favorite dish and these wonderful Vietnamese carrots and daikon pickles will enhance any meal that needs that fresh, salty crunch. Thanks and lots of love to Mom, Grandma and preserved family recipes that make food and sharing so special. Have fun making this Vietnamese pickles recipe. Are there any special family recipes or traditions you hold close?

Some FavoriteVietnamese Pickles Ingredients and Tools:

It can sometimes be hard to find good Vietnamese ingredients and tools. Here’ssomeof the favorites for pickling and beyond:

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (6)

This little tool makes julienning the carrots and other ingredients a breeze.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (7)

The Weck Jars have such a great style. They hold 1/2 liter each (about 2 cups) making them perfect for smaller batches of pickles and other tasties.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (8)

This has been our house fish sauce for decades. Great stuff! We’ll use it to make ourdipping saucesas well as marinades.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (9)

100% all natural first press extra virgin Vietnamese fish sauce. One of the best craft fish sauce producers.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (10)

These are another of our favorite shapes of Weck Jars. A larger tulip shape, they hold 1 liter each (4 cups) making them perfect for bigger batches of pickles and other tasties.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (11)

Our house favorite hoisin sauce. Great flavor. We use it to make a dipping sauce for spring rolls.

Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (12)

Vietnamese Pickles with Carrot and Daikon Radish (Đồ Chua)

Yield: 10 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Pickle Time: 1 day d

Total Time: 1 day d 15 minutes mins

Pungent warning: These pickles will be more pungent/stinky the longer you brine them. You can eat them the next day, but if you want them more flavorful and crispy, brine them longer which also makes them more pungent! Taste the brine before you finish the final pickles. If you like your pickles more sweet, add a few teaspoons of sugar. Personalizing these pickles to your taste will make them extra special. I've tasted Vietnamese pickles from friends, family, restaurants and they're all different. Some are sweeter, tangier or saltier. Make them the way you want!

4.04 from 56 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. (227 g) carrots – julienned or cut into thin match-like strips
  • 1/2 lb. (227 g) daikon radish , cut same as carrots
  • 4 cups (1 l) water , slightly warm enough to dissolve the salt and sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) salt
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup (120-180 ml) distilled white vinegar or rice vinegar (or to taste)

Instructions

  • Prep carrots and daikon, set aside. In large pitcher or large bowl, mix water, vinegar *see note at end of step, sugar and salt until everything is dissolved and combined well. (Start with 1/2 cup of vinegar and taste the mixture. If you like it more tangy/vinegary, add few more vinegar to taste.)

  • Place carrots and daikon in a clean, sterile jar. Fill with vinegar mixture until carrots and daikon are completely covered in liquid.

  • Cover jars and set in the refrigerator to pickle for at least overnight. Our ideal timing is to let the pickles sit for 3 days before eating. Pickles can last for about 3 weeks in the fridge. I like my pickles to sit for at least 5 days so that the carrots and daikon become more flavorful and sour. They will definitely be more pungent. You can eat them the next day and they'll be less vinegary, and definitely less pungent.

  • Serve pickles in banh mi sandwiches, as a side dish or with a salad. There's so many differnet ways to enjoy these pickles.

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 27kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Sodium: 1420mg, Potassium: 124mg, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 3790IU, Vitamin C: 6.4mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Course: Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Asian, Vietnamese

Calories: 27

Enjoy the pickles with Vietnamese Banh Mi Recipes Here.

Here’s my personal recipe for Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dip and click here for all our popular Vietnamese Recipes that are sometimes traditional and definitely sometimes not.Check out more Vietnamese Recipes Here.

Best Pickle Recipes

We really love pickles. If you’re pickle lovers like we are, check out more of our pickle recipes.

  • Curry Cauliflower Pickles
  • The best bread and butter pickles recipe EVER
  • Sweet pea and asparagus pickles
  • Quick pickled sugar snap peas with mint.
  • Here’s more great pickle recipe ideas for you.

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80 comments on “Vietnamese Pickles Carrots & Daikon , My Family Recipe”

  1. Jennifer April 20, 2023 @ 11:25 pm Reply

    I’ve always wanted to learn how to make these on my own. So glad I found this recipe.Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (21)

  2. JJ July 9, 2022 @ 6:24 am Reply

    Are you using a coarse kosher salt, pickling salt or more or a fine sea salt? I couldn’t tell from the vid.

    • Todd + Diane July 10, 2022 @ 10:33 pm Reply

      Hi JJ, we’re using regular kosher salt. Thanks for asking!

  3. Indira zephir June 5, 2022 @ 10:04 am Reply

    Thank u very much for this recipe I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and had Vietnamese Pancake it was delicious there was a pickle served with the salad After a lot of research i found out that white radish was used Thank u i will definitely be making some xx

    • Todd + Diane June 8, 2022 @ 8:16 am Reply

      Hi Indira, so glad you enjoyed the crispy Vietnamese Banh Xeo “crepe/pancake”. It’s definitely one of our favorites!

  4. Shin November 12, 2021 @ 6:48 am Reply

    Thank you so much for the recipe. I love eating Vietnamese spring rolls with pickled vegetables from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. I have been wanting to make it myself. Can’t wait to try your recipe.

  5. Kirsten July 4, 2021 @ 8:57 am Reply

    These are perfection!Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (22)

    • Todd + Diane July 4, 2021 @ 11:19 am Reply

      Thank you Kirsten!

  6. Ari May 30, 2021 @ 12:46 am Reply

    Hi there, it says 2 tablespoons of salt but in brackets 10ml which is 2 teaspoons. Could you please confirm if it’s 2 tablespoons or teaspoons? Thank you

    • Todd + Diane May 30, 2021 @ 7:27 am Reply

      Hi Ari,
      Thanks for catching that conversion glitch. It is 2 tablespoons of salt. It should have read 30ml.
      Hope you enjoy the family recipe!

  7. Maggie March 26, 2020 @ 6:46 pm Reply

    Looks like a great recipe!
    Just wondering if white vinegar can be used instead of distilled white vinegar?
    Seems it’s a bit hard to find distilled white vinegar.

    Would there be a big difference in taste if white vinegar was used instead?

    Thank you.

    • March 29, 2020 @ 11:32 am Reply

      Hi Maggie! Yes, you can use white vinegar for the recipe. White vinegar is a little more stronger than distilled white vinegar, so you might want to dilute it with a little bit more water. There’s not much flavor difference. The pickled daikons are pretty pungent, so that’s the smell and flavors you’ll be noticing first. 🙂 enjoy!

      • Maggie April 1, 2020 @ 11:07 pm

        Yay, thank you.
        And thank you for the tip. 🙂
        I will definitely give this recipe a try! I love pickled vegetables! 😀

  8. Lisa L February 5, 2020 @ 1:40 pm Reply

    I found this recipe a few years ago with your banh mi. I’ve made both so many times since then and always delicious! Thank you for sharing!Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (23)

  9. Ellie January 4, 2020 @ 3:21 pm Reply

    Great starting point! I add one or two thai chili peppers, a couple of whole white peppercorns, 3 whole cloves and 3 bruised cloves of garlic. I never remember the measurements for the sugar/salt/vinegar, which is why I came here.Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (24)

    • Gabrielle Falk November 6, 2022 @ 6:37 pm Reply

      Hi Ellie: Sounds yummy. Do you have exact quantities for the other ingredients that you are using? My husband would rather ‘die’ than eat these sorts of delicious foods, so the result will be interesting to taste, and will be ALL MINE. Thank You. Gabrielle from Sydney, Australia.

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Easy Vietnamese Pickles Recipe Carrots Radish | White On Rice (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for daikon radish in banh mi? ›

If you can't find daikon, red radishes taste great here too. And if you're sensitive to spice, go easy on the jalapeño. Spicy mayo – A banh mi essential!

Can radish and carrot cook together? ›

Yes, you can mix radish and carrot together. Radishes and carrots can be combined in various dishes, such as salads, stir-fries, or vegetable medleys. They complement each other well in terms of flavors and textures.

How long does pickled daikon last? ›

Pickles are an essential part of Vietnamese food! These pickled carrots and daikon (white radish) are easy to make and last for 2 months in the fridge. They're served on Vietnamese noodle bowls (like these), alongside meats and for Banh Mi (crispy pork is my favourite!). I pretty much always have some on hand.

How to make daikon less stinky? ›

The smell mainly comes from the daikon radish. It contains sulfur compounds that produces a not-so-pleasant odor, especially when pickled. Salting it should reduce the smell, but not entirely.

What is the closest vegetable to daikon? ›

In a pinch, you can substitute: White turnips. White turnips will likely be your best bet when you can't find daikon, as the root vegetables are similar (but not identical) in appearance, flavor, and texture.

Are jicama and daikon the same? ›

Any daikon substitutes? If you can't find daikon radishes in your local grocery store or farmers market, the next best thing is jicama. Also a root vegetable, jicama has a similarly crisp, watery bite and starchy mouthfeel. While its sweet flavor differs from daikon, texturally jicama is the best option.

What should not be mixed with radish? ›

Never eat radish and cucumber together as the ascorbate in cucumber can interfere with the absorption of vitamin C.

What not to mix carrots with? ›

For example, eating carrots and oranges together is not advised as this combination might lead to excess bile reflux and may even cause heartburn.

What vegetables should not be mixed together? ›

Examples of Plants That Should Not Be Grown Together
AsparagusFennel, Garlic, Onions, Potatoes
CornBroccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Fennel, Tomatoes
DillCarrots, Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, Cabbage
FennelAsparagus, Beans, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumber, Peppers
GarlicAsparagus, Beans, Peas, Sage, Strawberries
21 more rows

Can you eat too much pickled radish? ›

When taken by mouth: Radish is commonly consumed in foods. It is likely safe when used in moderate amounts as medicine. But taking large amounts of radish can irritate the stomach.

How to get bitterness out of daikon? ›

Leave the daikon in the salt for 10 minutes. This is to take away the bitterness and extract water so the flavour intensifies.

What to eat with pickled carrots and daikon? ›

Thankfully, it's so easy to make! Vietnamese pickled daikon and carrot not only provide a tart and sweet crunch to Vietnamese sandwiches but it is also added to salads and topped as a garnish to many Vietnamese grilled meat dishes.

What are the disadvantages of daikon? ›

The side-effects that one may experience after consuming daikon are mainly related to dermatitis and asthma. Daikon is also considered harmful for those suffering from gallstones. The compound in daikin that has been found to prevent or fight cancer also has an effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland.

How to tell if daikon is bad? ›

You'll know your daikon radish is going bad if it becomes soft and limp instead of being firm and crunchy. It may also develop dark spots or start turning a yellow color. If you notice a strong, unpleasant odor, or if there's mold, that's a sure sign it's past its prime and should be tossed.

Why is my daikon blue inside? ›

Internal blue discoloration in Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a physiological phenomenon that usually occurs in harvested radish roots after storage at approximately 20 °C for a few days.

Can you use normal radish instead of daikon? ›

In raw dishes such as salads and slaws, one can usually substitute regular radish for Daikon in equal amounts. However, regular radishes tend to have a spicier, more peppery bite compared to the milder Daikon.

Is daikon just white radish? ›

Daikon, sometimes called winter radish, is a root vegetable that is long and tubular. Daikon radishes have a crispy texture and are mild in flavor with a slightly peppery bite. They are commonly white in color with leafy green tops, but they also come in a variety of colors and shapes.

Can you use regular radish instead of daikon in kimchi? ›

Korean radish is a large, mild white radish used in all kinds of dishes including soups and side dishes. It is shorter and rounder than daikon, but either can be used for this radish kimchi.

What is a good substitute for daikon sprouts? ›

You can replace it with alfalfa, broccoli sprouts, or sprouted greens.

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