Description

This Quick and Spicy Pickled Celery recipe offers a zesty and crunchy homemade snack that’s easy to prepare. Crisp celery spears are packed with a flavorful brine of white vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, mustard seeds, and aromatic spices. Ready in just a couple of hours, this tangy and mildly spicy pickle is perfect as a snack, addition to salads, or a crunchy side for your meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Pickling Brine

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon sugar

Pickled Celery

1 bunch celery stalks (trimmed and cut into 3–4 inch spears)
2 cloves garlic (sliced)
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
Dill sprigs (optional, for flavor)
Lemon zest (optional, for brightness)

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Instructions

Wash and Trim: Rinse the celery stalks under cold water to remove any dirt. Trim the ends and cut the stalks into 3 to 4 inch spears to fit neatly into your pickling jar.
Create the Brine: In a small pot, combine white vinegar, water, kosher salt, and sugar. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the salt and sugar fully dissolve, about 5 minutes.
Pack the Jar: Place the celery spears tightly into a clean jar. Add sliced garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes. For extra flavor, include sprigs of dill and some lemon zest if desired.
Pour the Brine: Carefully pour the hot brine over the celery and spices in the jar until all celery is submerged. Leave a small space at the top of the jar, then seal it tightly with a lid.
Cool and Refrigerate: Let the jar cool to room temperature on the counter. Once cooled, transfer the jar to the refrigerator and allow the celery to pickle for at least 1 to 2 hours to develop the spicy tangy flavor.

Notes

Use fresh, crisp celery stalks for the best crunch in your pickles.
The pickled celery is best consumed within 2 weeks when kept refrigerated.
You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your taste.
Adding dill and lemon zest is optional but adds refreshing herbal and citrus notes.
Make sure the jar and utensils are clean and sterilized to preserve the pickles for longer.