Sugar-free pickled beets and carrots are not to be unappreciated! These are so easy to make, have great flavor and are the perfect addition to salads and snacks.
The Snack You Need
These sugar-free pickled beets are squeaky clean, paleo, Whole30, and yes! Even great for a low carb and keto diet. They have been absolute lifesavers during my AIP KETO RESET! Red onions are a staple in my kitchen as is obvious by my Instagram feed (@thecastawaykitchen), along with Garlic Confit. Both highly coveted recipes appear in my first book Made Whole. Adding these sugar-free pickled veggies to your rotation is an easy way to add color and nutrients to your plate.
Simple Ingredients for Easy Pickled Beets and Carrots
- I’m always a sucker for pretty produce. If you can find golden beets, or stripped beets go for it, they’re just so pretty! But regular ol’ red beets work well too and are just as delicious.
- Same for the carrots, I like rainbow carrots, but any carrots will do!
- You need apple cider vinegar, I use Braggs with the Mother, the mother simply means strands of protein (which contain enzymes and beneficial bacteria) in organic apple cider vinegar which consists of cellulose and acetic acid.
- Rosemary, garlic and clove give these sugar free pickled beets and carrots their flavor! No sugar needed, these root veggies bring their own sweetness.
Step by Step Pickled Veggies
- Peel and cut your vegetables and put them in sterilized mason jars. Add 2 cloves garlic to each jar, 1 clove, and a sprig of rosemary.
- In a saucepot over medium heat, simmer the water, vinegar, and salt, until the salt is dissolved.
- Pour the brine over the vegetables and let it sit at room temperature with the lid open for 30 minutes.
- Then close the lid and put them in the fridge. These are quick-pickled beets and carrots. They retain their crunch and taste tangy. If you want instructions for canning beets, check out this process, just use my ingredients.
Why Veggies Rule!
Beets are about 13g of carbs per cup, but about 1/3-1/2 of these babies are more than sufficient to add color to your plate, salad or to dip in pate (my favorite way to eat them). However, they deliver a healthy dose of potassium, folate, and vitamin C!
Carrots are about 10 grams of carbs for two medium carrots, these pickled carrots are cut into carrot stick so a serving of 4 sticks will be about 5 grams of carbs, and carrots have Vitamin A, beta-carotene, calcium, and potassium!
I don’t know about you, but I rather eat my veggies (and offal) than take a whole bunch of supplements for the rest of my life. Nature truly provides everything we need to thrive and these colorful root veggies are a great way to get them in. These Sugar-Free Pickled Beets are the perfect way to get nutrients on your plate!
How To Enjoy Sugar Free Pickled Beets (and Carrots)
I love slicing up some beets over my salad or using carrots or beets to scoop up pate or other fatty dips. They are a great burger or taco topper and add a huge pop of color to any plate! They are tender and tangy, and for some reason, the pickling process really brings out their natural sweetness!I was lucky enough to get some beautiful farm-fresh beets for this. I used golden beets and Chioggia beets (the stripped or peppermint beets). I find them to be less earthy! I also used rainbow carrots… for well.. fun and color!I have a theory that if you eat by color, the more color the better, the more nutritious your meal will be!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, these are quick-pickled beets. If you want to can them they need to be processed, meaning once the jars are full, and sealed, they need to be boiled. This post explains that process.
No, regular pickled beets have a ton of sugar! A lot! Once you start eating paleo your palate changes. These are crisp, bright and tangy!
Absolutely. I will include instructions in the recipe card.
Yes, you can add a few drops of stevia or 1 cup of your preferred sweetener for a more traditional pickled veggie!
Looking for more free recipes?
Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for all of the latest updates.
Sugar Free Pickled Beets and Carrots
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 quarts 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Pickled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A quick pickle recipe for your beets and carrots without sugar!
Ingredients
- 2–3 cups peeled and diced beets
- 4–6 carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 cloves
- 2 sprigs fresh dill or rosemary, optional
Instructions
Quick Pickle Instructions
- Add the beets to a sterilized quart-sized jar. Add the carrots to another. Add 2 cloves garlic, 1 clove, and 1 sprig of herbs to each jar as well.
- Heat the water and vinegar over medium heat in a 2-quart saucepot. Add in the salt.
- Bring to a light simmer and stir until salt is dissolved for about 8 minutes.
- Pour the brine into the jars until the veggies are submerged.
- Let them sit out for 30 minutes on the counter. Then cover with a tight-fitting lid and store in the fridge.
- Always use a clean fork to retrieve veggies, and these will last several weeks.
Canning Instructions
- Start by boiling your beets and carrots for a few minutes. Then draining and placing in sterilized jars (see notes for how to do this).
- Make the brine as instructed above, and pour it over the veggies. Close with a tight-fitting lid.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil, with a rack on the bottom, put the jars in the boiling water (carefully), you want the water to come up to an inch from the top. Process for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the water, let cool, and store in a cool, dry place.
Recipe Notes:
- The best way to sterilize a mason jar for pickling and canning is to submerge it in boiling water. A great tip to have a large pot of water with boiling water for this purpose and later to process the jars.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 45
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9.3g
- Fiber: 1.3g
- Protein: 1.2g
Maria A says
Hi Cristina,
I love pickled beets!!
Your recipe sounds so easy.
Are we to peel the beets first? Can we use this recipe for hard boiled eggs too?
Thank you
Maria
Cristina Curp, FNTP says
yes peel them! and I think so!
Kathy says
I do not have refrigerator space. Can I cold pack these and have them be safe to store on the shelf for a year or two?
Cristina says
You have to sterilize the jars and what not… so you can use this recipe but will have to follow a few extra steps to make them safe for shelf-stable, here is a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_valjbpwOgU
Wanda says
I am happy to know that I can have beets on paleo. I love them. Pickled beets are great, but my favorite way is how my Mom would serve them…she boiled them whole with skin on until tender and let them cool just a little bit, then she would just slip the skin right off and I would eat them while still hot. They were so good! She always canned pickled beets, with sugar of course since this was in SE Tennessee and in the 50s and 60s. I used to help her with her canning. Those are some very special memories.
Jan says
In step 6, you say “Then over and store in the fridge”. What do you mean by “Then over…”? Over what?
Cristina says
oops its COVER and store in the fridge
Marty says
I like pickling cooked carrot chunks and sliced beets. I just add Btragg’s vinegar. Does that get you the same probiotic benefit as letting the raw ones sit in the vinegar and salt solution?
Cristina says
Braggs is fermented! So you get probiotics from the vinegar 🙂
Mj says
Will these taste like the pickled beets I buy in the store without the sugar?
Cristina says
Regular pickled beets are very sweet, they have a ton of sugar. These are more on the tangy side.
Elizabeth says
Can I swap the carrots for red cabbage?
Cristina says
Ive never tried it, but let us know how it turns out
Victoria says
Is this for a quick-pickle, or, how long do veggies sit in bring before they’re ready?
Cristina says
Quick pickle, let it sit at room temp, lid open for 30 min before covering and putting it in the fridge
Hannah Lee says
How long will these last? Do they need to be stored in the fridge?
Cristina says
They need to be in the fridge and will last a month or so.
Emily says
Fabulous!
Jen says
Silly question no doubt 🙂 but… do you cook the beest first, or are they raw? thank you!
Cristina says
Raw 🙂
Lynne Kypuros says
I just made these for the first time ever. How long do I leave them in the brine before they are ready to eat? I am quite the Newbie to fermented foods. I have made saurkraut, and kimchi and I love both of those. I just assumed these would take time to “pickle”? Please advise!
Cristina says
Hi Lynne! Yeay! They are so tasty! You can eat some right away, with a light pickle 🙂 But I think they get better after a day or two.
Chelsea says
Pickled beets are, hands down, one of my FAVORITE THINGS! Love your version. Thank you!
Cristina says
Yeaaahhh!!