Pickled Beetroot
Cooked beetroot sliced and packed in a sweet, spiced vinegar brine simmered for 20 minutes. Sixteen servings in 35 minutes.
How to Cook Pickled Beetroot
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Pack the sliced beetroot into clean jars.
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Simmer the vinegar, water, sugar, peppercorns, bay and salt for 20 minutes.
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Pour the hot brine over the beetroot, making sure it is covered. Cool, seal and keep in the fridge.
Keep an Eye on These
- Pour the brine over hot.
- Keep the beetroot fully covered.
- If your hob runs hot, check the brine at 15 minutes.
- Wait a day before eating.
About This Recipe
Pickled beetroot is sharp, sweet and bright pink, and it makes a plain salad look like a plan. Making it yourself means you control the sweetness, and there is no sulphurous jar smell.
Boil the beetroot whole in their skins until tender, which takes about 45 minutes depending on size. Keeping the skin on stops the colour bleeding out, and the skins rub off easily once they are cool.
The brine is vinegar, water, sugar, peppercorns and bay, simmered for 20 minutes. Pour it over the beetroot while hot, so the flavour goes in quickly.
If you use ready-cooked beetroot, check it is not already in vinegar. Leave the jar for a day. The beetroot keeps getting better as the brine soaks into the slices. Add a few sliced red onions or a pinch of caraway to the jar if you like, and use the leftover brine to quick-pickle a handful of sliced cucumber.
What to Serve It With
Cold ham · Cheddar sandwiches · Green salad · Boiled eggs
Leftovers
Keeps in the fridge in its brine for up to 4 weeks.
Questions People Ask
How long does Pickled Beetroot take to make?
About 35 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 16.
What are the key tips for making Pickled Beetroot?
Pour the brine over hot. Keep the beetroot fully covered. If your hob runs hot, check the brine at 15 minutes. Wait a day before eating.
What should I serve with Pickled Beetroot?
Cold ham; Cheddar sandwiches; Green salad; Boiled eggs.
How should Pickled Beetroot be stored?
Keeps in the fridge in its brine for up to 4 weeks.
Is Pickled Beetroot suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
Pickled Beetroot Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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