Fermenting & Pickling / Recipes

Quick Pickled Kohlrabi Slaw

Quick pickled kohlrabi slaw

Up until a couple of months ago, I didn’t even know what kohlrabi was. By chance, I was at a friend of a friend’s house for a party, and deep in the backyard was a beautiful edible garden. I could not resist a tour from Patti, the owner, who also insisted I tote along a shopping bag (it sounds weird to be “grocery shopping” at a party, but how could I say no to the gracious hostess?!).

After passing several beds of chard, spinach, and asparagus, we came across the most unusual plants I’d ever seen. Poking out of the sandy soil were little green Sputniks, tentacles, and all, with cabbage-like leaves. If turnip grew above ground and married cabbage, they would have little kohlrabi babies. Since I love trying new oddities, Patti sent me home with a few of those Sputniks.

Turns out, kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family (Brassica oleracea) and its name is derived from the German words kohl (“cabbage”) and rübe (“turnip”). The taste and texture are similar to a broccoli stem, and the whole vegetable — from the leaves to the bulb — can be eaten raw or cooked.

Since I’ve been in a pickling kind of mood lately, I thought it would make an excellent coleslaw, minus the dairy. With its crunchy texture and mild flavor that just soaks in all that pickling juice, quick pickled kohlrabi slaw adds a nice kick as a side dish for meats, or as a relish for burgers and hot dogs. I even eat it by the forkful straight out of the jar — it’s just that good!

Quick Pickled Kohlrabi Slaw

Makes 2 quarts

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)
2 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons pickling salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 medium kohlrabi, leaves removed
2 teaspoons black peppercorns, divided
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 to 3 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, divided

Making Your Quick Pickled Kohlrabi Slaw

In a medium saucepan, bring the vinegar, water, pickling salt, and sugar to a rolling boil. Stir until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, then remove the brine from heat.

Trim the kohlrabi bulb with a knife, removing any blemishes and hard bits. You don’t need to peel the bulb, but I find that the flesh tends to be tougher where the “tentacles” are, so I slice them off. (By the way, don’t toss the leaves — they can be used like any other greens in salads, sautes, and stir-fries.)

Kohlrabi bulbs
Trim the tough bits off the kohlrabi bulb

Slice the kohlrabi into thin matchsticks about 2 inches long and 1/8 inch wide.

Slice kohlrabi into matchsticks

Pour a teaspoon of black peppercorns into each clean jar. Then, fill the jars by repeating layers of garlic, onion and kohlrabi to just about 1 inch below the rim.

Pour a teaspoon of black peppercorns into each jar
Layer garlic, onion and kohlrabi in jar
Repeat layers of garlic, onion and kolrahi in jar

Fill the jars with brine, making sure all the ingredients are covered, then top off with 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes in each jar.

Fill jar with brine
Top off with red pepper flakes

Wipe the rims with a towel and seal with lids. Store your jars in the fridge for at least a day before consuming — but kohlrabi slaw tastes better when it’s been pickled for at least three days. And it’s best after one week, three weeks, even six months later, which is the longest I’ve kept any kind of quick pickles in the fridge. Most likely you’ll have eaten it all before then!

Pickle the kohlrabi slaw for at least three days for best flavor
Yield: 2 quarts

Quick Pickled Kohlrabi Slaw

Quick pickled kohlrabi slaw

With its crunchy texture and mild flavor that just soaks in all that pickling juice, quick pickled kohlrabi slaw adds a nice kick as a side dish for meats, or as a relish for burgers and hot dogs. I even eat it by the forkful straight out of the jar — it’s just that good!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons pickling salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 medium kohlrabi, leaves removed
  • 2 teaspoons black peppercorns, divided
  • 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 to 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, divided

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the vinegar, water, pickling salt, and sugar to a rolling boil.
  2. Stir until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, then remove the brine from heat.
  3. Trim the kohlrabi bulb with a knife, removing any blemishes and hard bits.
  4. Slice the kohlrabi into thin matchsticks about 2 inches long and 1/8 inch wide.
  5. Pour a teaspoon of black peppercorns into each clean jar. 
  6. Then, fill the jars by repeating layers of garlic, onion and kohlrabi to just about 1 inch below the rim.
  7. Fill the jars with brine, making sure all the ingredients are covered, then top off with 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes in each jar.
  8. Wipe the rims with a towel and seal with lids.
  9.  Store your jars in the fridge for at least a day before consuming.

Notes

You don’t need to peel the bulb, but I find that the flesh tends to be tougher where the “tentacles” are, so I slice them off. (By the way, don’t toss the leaves — they can be used like any other greens in salads, sautes, and stir-fries.)

Kohlrabi slaw tastes better when it’s been pickled for at least three days. And it’s best after one week, three weeks, or even six months later, which is the longest I’ve kept any kind of quick pickles in the fridge. 

Did you make this recipe?

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About Author

I'm a plant lover, passionate road-tripper, and cookbook author whose expert advice and bestselling books have been featured in TIME, Outside, HGTV, and Food & Wine. The No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook is my latest book. Garden Betty is where I write about modern homesteading, farm-to-table cooking, and outdoor adventuring—all that encompass a life well-lived outdoors. After all, the secret to a good life is... Read more »

7 Comments

  • Lois Luckovich
    March 1, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    I quite like kohlrabi, I grew up eating them so now i guess I’ll try them as pickled slaw, thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  • greengenes, Jeanne Cronce
    October 2, 2016 at 6:27 am

    I cant wait to try this! When it gets light outside iam going to pick some and get started!

    Reply
    • Linda Ly of Garden Betty
      October 14, 2016 at 6:30 pm

      Good luck! I think this is one of the best ways to eat kohlrabi.

      Reply
  • Laila Noort
    June 6, 2012 at 10:38 am

    Great recipe. Will definitely grow Kohlrabi next year and use your pickling recipe! Lovely post as always!

    Reply
    • Linda Ly
      June 6, 2012 at 4:13 pm

      After this, I’m tempted to grow my own kohlrabi next year as well!

      Reply
  • oukay
    June 4, 2012 at 10:57 am

    Did you leave the peel on?  Can’t quite tell with the finished product.  Our farmers market sells enormous ones – it feels like you are picking up a shrunken head when you grab them by the leaves!

    Reply
    • Linda Ly
      June 6, 2012 at 4:12 pm

      Yes, I left the peel on. My kohlrabi was still small enough where the skin was tender. If you use larger bulbs, you’ll probably have to peel them first.

      Shrunken head – ha! Good comparison. 😉

      Reply

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