Instant pickled cabbage — how to cook very tasty

Pickled cabbage is a classic snack that not only decorates any table, but also has a lot of useful properties. It is loved for its fresh taste, crisp texture and rich aroma. It is especially important to cook such cabbage in a fast mode — in just two to three hours, in order to enjoy a savory delicacy in a short time. Learn more about how to cook very tasty pickled cabbage quickly, without difficult conditions, while preserving all the flavors and benefits, Izvestia tells

Main ingredients and preparation

For a quick and delicious version of pickled cabbage, you will need:

1 kg of white cabbage (preferably fresh late varieties, dense and crispy);

1 large carrot;

3-4 cloves of garlic;

2 bay leaves;

5 black pepper peas;

2-3 pieces of allspice;

2 tablespoons sugar;

1.5–2 tablespoons of salt;

125 ml vinegar 6-9%;

125 ml of vegetable oil;

600 ml of water.

Choosing fresh vegetables is critically important to achieve a good crunch and brightness of taste. It is not recommended to use old or soft cabbage, it will not preserve the crunch and will not give the desired effect. It is important to thoroughly rinse all the vegetables and prepare the containers in advance.

Step-by-step recipe for pickled cabbage

Step 1. Slicing vegetables

Finely chop the cabbage and grate the carrots on a coarse grater or into thin strips. Finely chop the garlic or pass it through a press. Place the prepared vegetables in a wide, deep container.

Step 2. Preparation of the marinade

Boil water in a saucepan, add salt, sugar, bay leaf and spices. Cook for 5-7 minutes, dissolving all the spices. Then remove from heat, add vinegar and oil and mix.

Step 3. Filling and marinating

Pour the hot marinade into the container with the vegetables, mix gently and stamp with a spoon. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and leave for 2-3 hours at room temperature, during which time the cabbage will be completely marinated and crispy.

Step 4. Storage

Ready-made cabbage can be put into jars and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. For longer storage, sterilize the jars at 80 °C for 10-15 minutes and roll up the lids.

Useful tips for proper cooking

For a brighter taste, add some hot peppers or herbs. The vinegar version of 9% gives a richer acidic note, and 6% makes the snack a little softer. If you want more crunch, do not overdo the cabbage in the boiling marinade, two hours is enough. For the experiment, you can add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice instead of the usual vinegar — the taste will become fresher.

Having a lot of taste and useful properties, this cabbage will be an excellent addition to any feast or an independent snack, and its versatility allows it to be used in salads, side dishes and even hot dishes. It's not for nothing that experts recommend this particular recipe as one of the best options for quick and delicious pickling in 2025.