Homemade Escabeche (Mexican Pickled Vegetables) Recipe

Homemade Escabeche (Mexican Pickled Vegetables) are a perfect quick pickle condiment for your Mexican food! Great on tacos, burritos, and more!

I am a huge lover of Mexican recipes, only second to Italian, and this Homemade Escabeche is a great Mexican condiment to have on hand!

Typically, escabeche salad is made with red onion, carrot, and jalapeno peppers in a quick pickle. But you can add any other favorite vegetables, such as cauliflower (which I have seen a good amount of!).

If you want it super spicy, add either more jalapeno or a spicier pepper like serrano peppers or even habanero to this escabeche recipe. (Spicy carrots are just amazing as a sweet and spicy condiment!).

Also use more or less of any ingredient as you prefer. I personally love LOTS of onion and less carrot, so go with what you love!

It is an easy recipe to feel like you are at your favorite Mexican restaurant or local taqueria!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

These pickled vegetables bring a ton of flavor with a tang to any recipe.

The acidity of the pickling liquid is a great balance to anything that is heavy or rich.

It is incredibly easy to make and a great condiment to share with anything Mexican or Latin!

What is Escabeche

Escabeche recipes originated when preserving food was highly necessary, blending Mediterranean food with Arabic methods.

Traditionally, escabeche refers to a method of preserving fish or meat by marinating it in a flavorful blend of vinegar, aromatic herbs, spices, and vegetables.

Modern adaptations have expanded the horizons of escabeche, making it suitable for a wide range of ingredients.

You will often find this vegetable escabeche recipe in Mexican restaurants served up as a condiment.

Pickled carrots and red onions are the most common variations or ingredients to find.

Ingredients Needed

You can find the full recipe and quantities in the recipe card below.

Here is what you need to make this Mexican pickled vegetable salad:

Red Onions – you could also use white or yellow onion if preferred

Carrots

Jalapeno – or spicier peppers if you want it hot!

Coriander (seed or ground)

Cumin (seed or ground)

Apple Cider Vinegar – white vinegar will also work

Sugar

Salt

Spices

The pickling in this vegetable escabeche recipe is very similar to Vietnamese Banh Mi pickles or classic cucumber pickles, but with Mexican spices of cumin and coriander.

Coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant but tastes rather different, so if you are one of the people that things cilantro tastes like soap (which is hereditary, and fortunately not a problem I have), you might still like coriander!

The coriander seed and cumin seed are technically better options for a pickle, but if you are like me and do not want to buy an entire spice for one recipe, ground coriander and ground cumin are great as well.

The recipe includes amounts for both. Just know the ground spices might make the brine a little cloudy but otherwise the flavor should still be the same.

Instruction Overview

Want to know how to make escabeche? It literally takes just a few minutes to make Mexican Pickled Vegetables with an apple cider vinegar base.

And I recommend storing the escabeche vegetable salad in mason jars so you can see the contents.

Cut up your vegetables and place them in two pint jars. Heat your brine ingredients and then pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables.

Let the refrigerator pickles soak for at least 30 minutes and they are ready! Just pop them in the refrigerator once the jars are cool enough to handle (room temperature).

If you prefer crunchy veggies, you want to eat them within the first few days. They will get softer the longer they sit in the mixture of vinegar.

FAQs

Uses for Escabeche

This easy quick pickle recipe is a perfect condiment for your favorite Mexican dishes.

My favorite way to eat escabeche is on top of tacos! The acidity, crunch, and flavors are just perfect for pretty much any taco. You can find some of our favorite Mexican recipes and tacos to try it with below!

It also makes a great snack or side dish, and can be used on top of any other recipe that you want to bring some crunch and acidity to.

Modifications and Changes

Use any vegetable you want such as cauliflower florets, green beans, radishes, or garlic cloves! It is a great way to preserve and use up any vegetables you might need to get through.

Want it spicy? Use hotter peppers like a serrano, and/or more of them!

If desired, you can add a bay leaf or two to the vinegar and spice mixture. The bay leaves will add some subtle floral flavor.

Kim’s Tips

The thicker the vegetables are cut, the crunchier or firmer they are likely to be. Take this into consideration when thinking about what texture you want for how you are using them.

Change up the ratios to what you love. I am personally a fan of more onion, less carrot.

Taco Recipes Perfect for Escabeche