I love the salty, spiced flavor of this Curry Pickled Cauliflower. It makes a great topping for salads and sandwiches, but I really love snacking on it right out of the jar. The spice blend includes a nice dose of turmeric, giving the pickles a beautiful golden color. Turmeric also has tons of great health benefits. The curcumin in turmeric, which supplies the golden yellow color, has significant anti-inflammatory properties that rival those found in ibuprofen. Unlike over-the-counter drugs, curcumin has no toxic effects. In addition, curcumin’s powerful antioxidant advantages have been shown to protect healthy cells, particularly those found in the colon, from cancer-causing agents. It can aid the body in destroying mutated cancer cells before they have a chance to spread to other areas. Pretty amazing, right? As if that weren’t enough, turmeric also helps to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease.
Recommended Products:
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Curry Pickled Cauliflower
Ingredients
Brine
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3 1/2 tbsp kosher salt
Pickle
- 3 lb head of cauliflower
- 1 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 6 green cardamom pods
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 3/4 tsp crushed red pepper (optional - adds spice)
- 3/4 tsp turmeric
NOTES
Instructions
- To make brine: Combine water, vinegar, sugar and salt in a saucepot and simmer over low heat, stirring often, until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside. Let it return to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, wash and trim the cauliflower and break the florets into bite-size pieces.
- Toss cauliflower with 1 ¾ tsp kosher salt and allow to sit for about 30 minutes, then rinse. This will draw out excess moisture from inside the cauliflower, allowing it to absorb the pickling brine and spices better.
- Evenly distribute the cardamom pods, bay leaves, curry powder, crushed red pepper and turmeric between the pint jars (1/3 of the ingredient amount listed in each jar).
- Distribute the cauliflower between the jars and press down with tongs to make sure everything is tightly packed.
- The brine should be room temperature by now- if it isn't, wait till it cools off before proceeding. Using a wide mouth funnel, cover the cauliflower with the brine, leaving about ½ inch of headspace in each jar.
- Clean the rims of the jars with a damp paper towel or clean kitchen towel.
- At this point, to make refrigerator pickles, you can put lids on the jars, shake them to disperse the spices, and place directly into the refrigerator. They will be ready to eat in 1 week (you can taste them after 2-3 days, but flavor will be best after a full week). The pickles should last for about 4 weeks. Always check and smell for spoilage before eating to be safe.If you prefer to can the cauliflower for longer shelf life, place the lids on the jars and seal with the bands using just your fingertips so that they are secure but not too tight. Process for 10 minutes using the boiling water method - click here for details.
- As soon as the timer goes off, quickly and carefully remove the jars using the jar lifter. Place them on the clean towels and allow to cool for 24 hours. After 24 hours you can remove the bands and test your seals by lifting the jar, by the lid, a few inches from the counter top. Jars with good seals can be kept in a cool dark place for up to a year. If the seal is broken, store in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks. Canned pickles will be ready to eat 2-3 days after canning them.
Nutrition
These are AMAZING!!! I made them a couple weeks ago and just cracked open a jar… Sooooooo good!! I may reduce the salt just a touch, but thank you for this perfection!!
Way too salty, and I love salt.
Hi Marcy, I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it. My family loves the salt level as written here, but you can of course adjust that to taste. Generally pickles contain twice as much sugar as salt (unless you’re looking for a sweeter pickle), so if you decide to make again with reduced salt be sure to reduce the sugar by an equal amount.
What are Cardamom pods???
I meant to say “more” crushed red pepper, my bad.
This sounds easy and taste, I think some crushed red peppers could heat it up a bit. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi, I live in Israel and I’m not sure what cardamom pods are.
Is there a substitute if I can’t get them here? Thanks
Cardamom is a spice popular in Indian cooking that is sold both in pod form and ground. I know they sell it in Israel, because it’s a popular addition to Turkish coffee blends (“cafe im hel” means coffee with cardamom, I think– so maybe the Hebrew word for the spice is “hel”?). If you can’t find the pods, you can sub 1/4 tsp ground cardamom. Hope that helps!
Is that “sub 1/4 tsp ground cardamom” per pint jar? or total recipe?
Looks great! Different then the pickles i usually make (no curry) – hope to try and report soon!
Please do Hannah! So nice to hear from you. Hope you’re doing well. 🙂
That cooks yummy
Love pickled cauliflower! Now I know what I want to do with the head I picked-up on sale yesterday. Thank you, Tori!
Looks great. Bet it tastes great too.
I make these every year! Yummy!!
yummy!!
Thanks for sharing this!! Will be making it real soon 🙂
yummy!
I love it; used to make it with the “picked banana pepper” juice after all the peppers had gone to pepper and cream cheese sandwiches. LOVE it with a little “heat” to it too.
I do this with carrots. Awesome stuff!
Gosh, Tori! Yum-O!
Yuuuummmm.
This is so going on my canning for winter list.
I have to try this! Sounds delicious…