Tết Pickled Carrot and Daikon
Why this recipe works
- Clean crunch: Salting the carrot and daikon first removes excess moisture, helping the pickles stay crisp rather than watery.
- Balanced sweet-sour flavour: Rice vinegar gives a gentle tang, while sugar softens the acidity without making the brine heavy.
- Improves as it chills: A short rest in the fridge gives the vegetables time to absorb the brine, and the flavour becomes more rounded by the next day.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Cool the brine fully: Let the vinegar brine reach room temperature before adding it to the vegetables; warm brine can soften their crunch.
- Allow time to pickle: The vegetables need at least a couple of hours in the fridge to become properly seasoned and lightly sweet-sour.
- Best after resting: The pickles are ready the same day, but the flavour is often more even and integrated after a day in the fridge.
Ingredient notes
- Cut evenly: Matchsticks of similar thickness pickle at the same rate and give the finished dish a consistent bite.
- Use firm vegetables: Choose firm daikon and carrots for the crispest texture; limp vegetables will not recover much crunch in the brine.
- Adjust the tang: Rice vinegar keeps the flavour mild and clean. White wine vinegar gives a sharper result if you prefer more pronounced acidity.
Serving ideas
- With rich mains: Serve alongside braised meats, grilled dishes or festive spreads where the acidity can cut through richer flavours.
- For sandwiches and bowls: Use the pickles as a crunchy topping for bánh mì-style sandwiches, rice bowls or noodle salads.
- Finish with freshness: Add just before serving so the vegetables keep their bright texture and colour.
Authenticity notes
- Carrot and daikon: The combination of carrot and daikon is central to đồ chua, giving both sweetness, peppery freshness and visual contrast.
- Tết table contrast: During Tết, crisp pickled vegetables are often served to balance richer savoury dishes.
- Home-style brine: A simple sweet vinegar brine keeps the preparation practical and lets the vegetables remain the focus.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel the carrot and daikon, then cut both into fine matchsticks. Put them in a mixing bowl and sprinkle over the fine sea salt. Toss well and leave for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Meanwhile, combine the water, rice vinegar and caster sugar in a saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring, just until the sugar dissolves, then take off the heat. Leave the brine to cool to room temperature.
- Tip the salted vegetables into a sieve and rinse briefly under cold water. Shake well, then gently squeeze out excess liquid so the pickles stay crisp. Return the vegetables to the bowl.
- Pour the cooled brine over the vegetables and toss to submerge. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, stirring once halfway through, until crisp and lightly sweet-sour. Serve cold as a refreshing side.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Cut the carrot and daikon to a similar thickness so they pickle evenly and stay crunchy.
- For the best texture, make sure the brine is fully cool before adding the vegetables.
- If serving to pregnant people, young children, older adults, or anyone immunocompromised, use very clean containers and keep the pickles properly chilled.
Substitutions
- Replace rice vinegar with white wine vinegar for a sharper, less floral tang.
- Replace caster sugar with granulated sugar; warm the brine a little longer to ensure it fully dissolves.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 7 days
- Keep covered and chilled in the fridge. The flavour improves after a day; stir before serving and use clean utensils to keep the pickles fresh.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 3h 10min (20min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Christmas Sausage Stuffing Balls
Baked sausage stuffing balls with onion, sage and thyme
Stoofperen op Vlaamse Wijze (Flemish Stewed Pears)
Pears stewed in red wine with cinnamon and cloves
Turkish Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad with cherry tomatoes, red onion, dill and lemon
Oi Muchim (Korean Spicy Cucumber Salad)
Spicy cucumber salad with gochugaru, vinegar and sesame oil
Za’atar Oven Chips
Oven chips tossed with za'atar, lemon and sea salt
Oven-Baked Cauliflower with Garlic, Paprika and Breadcrumbs
Oven-baked cauliflower with garlic, paprika and breadcrumbs
Mu Saengchae (Korean Spicy Radish Salad)
Crisp radish salad with gochugaru, vinegar and garlic
Vietnamese-French Lemongrass Chicken Baguette
Lemongrass chicken baguette with pickled carrot, daikon and cucumber
Ajad (Thai Cucumber Relish)
Thai cucumber relish with red onion and chilli in sweet-sour dressing
Nanban-Zuke (Sweet-Sour Marinated Fried Fish)
Sweet-sour marinated fried fish with onion and carrot
Sesame Noodle Bowl with Cucumber and Carrot
Sesame noodles with cucumber, carrot and spring onion
Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Pork Baguette Sandwich)
Vietnamese baguette sandwich with pork, pâté and pickled vegetables
You might also like
Southern BBQ Pulled Pork
Slow cooked pulled pork tossed in tangy BBQ sauce
Frittata di Patate (Potato, Onion and Parmesan Frittata)
Potato frittata with onion and parmesan
Chicken Fried Steak with Creamy White Gravy
Crispy chicken fried steak with creamy white pepper gravy
Classic Apple Pie with Shortcrust Pastry
Shortcrust apple pie with cinnamon and lemon
Brasato al Barolo (Beef Braised in Red Wine with Vegetables)
Beef braised in Barolo with vegetables and reduced wine sauce
Paella Mixta (Mixed Paella with Chicken, Prawns and Mussels)
Mixed paella with chicken, prawns, mussels and saffron rice
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Non-slip base
- Stainless steel
- Not microwave safe
T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart
- Easy food release
- Dishwasher safe
- Not induction compatible
OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set
- Non-slip base
- Comfort grip
- Higher price
WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid
- High-quality stainless steel
- Even heat distribution
- Higher price point
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
