Vibrant pink sticks of Middle eastern pickled turnips. Served alongside other mezes like hummus, olive tapenade, spicy roasted red pepper and feta dip, dates, and a baguette.
Homemade Takeout, Pickles, Vegetarian

Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips

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Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips are an absolute must in my house! My favorite pickle of ALL the pickles. Yep, I said what I said; they’re that good. 

Pickled Turnips are vinegary, have just a slight hint of heat, and are completely addicting! If you’re a fan of gyros, falafel, and kebabs, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ve had these. 

1. A basket full of turnips at the Fort Mason Farmers Market in San Francisco.
2. Black peppercorns, turnips, a beet, garlic, bay leaves, Kosher salt; everything you need, except the vinegar!

PICKLING YOUR OWN VEGGIES SAVES MAD MONEY!

I swear I was holding a dill pickle when my mom birthed me. I joke that I started pickling out of necessity. The pickle obsession was manageable as a single person but then I met my match.

My husband eats pickles and olives like they’re a main food group and the costs were getting out of control! Sure, I love my bougie Farmers’ market pickles as much as the next person, but my husband could crush one of those $14 jars during a brunch alone.

Once you buy a few large pickling jars, a big jug of white vinegar, and kosher salt; you’re pretty much covered! Just buy whatever vegetables you wish to pickle and any herbs/spices you want to add. It’s sooooooooooo much less expensive!

These Middle Eastern Turnips are a steady constant in my Gyro, Shawarma, and Falafel Bowls.

LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT HOSTESS GIFT IDEA?

In my opinion, homemade consumables are a thoughtful, delicious, and original small gift idea. Not everyone drinks wine but I’m convinced that everyone loves pickles! Homemade pickles are your new gift-giving best friend!

Turnip Heaven at the Fort Mason Farmers Market in San Francisco.
An aerial view of a table full of mezes. Middle Eastern pickled turnips being front and center, flanked by hummus, tirokafteri, olive tapenade, dates, and fresh bread.
1. A TABLE FULL OF MEZES: Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips; Tirokafteri (Spicy Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip); Hummus; Olive Tapenade; Medjool dates; and fresh bread.
1. Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips were the perfect colorful addition to an Israeli Couscous and Chicken Salad Bowl.
2. Mixed Homemade Pickled Vegetables and Olives with Lemon Basil Grilled Halloumi.

NOT SURE WHAT TO SERVE THESE PICKLED TURNIPS WITH? I SPY SOME TASTY OPTIONS BELOW!

Opening a freshly fried falafel
Zucchini and A plate of Zucchini and Feta Fritters with a Yogurt and Dill Sauce, Lemon Wedges, Fresh Figs, and Green Olives.
A shallow bowl full of orange roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato hummus. Garnished with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 3 Castelvetrano olives, and dried Greek oregano.
A build your own chicken shawarma platter with pickles, tomatoes, cucumbers, French fries, Toum, and lemon & tahini sauce.
A colorful Greek chicken gyro bowl, featuring diced bell peppers, sliced cucumber, quartered small tomatoes, pickled radishes, red onion slivers, crumbled feta, and chopped fresh dill.
A shallow plate of homemade tzatziki, with a generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil; garnished with torn dill.
A shallow bowl of creamy hummus, topped with whole chickpeas, green olives, and homemade carrot and cauliflower pickles.
Roasted Beet Labneh with Whole Za'atar
A plate of spicy roasted red pepper and feta dip (tirokafteri) surrounded by kettle cooked potato chips, pickled radishes, and raw celery sticks and Persian cucumber spears. The dip is garnished with whole Kalamata olives and a dusting of dried Greek oregano.
A side view of 4 baked meatballs, served with lemon and mint barley risotto.
1. Falafel
2. Zucchini and Feta Fritters
3. Roasted Red Pepper and Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus
4. Chicken Shawarma
5. Greek Chicken Gyro Meat
6. Tzatziki
7. Authentic Hummus
8. Roasted Beet and Labneh Dip
9. Tirokafteri (Spicy Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip)
10. Baked Meatballs with Fresh Herbs
Vibrant pink sticks of Middle eastern pickled turnips. Served alongside other mezes like hummus, olive tapenade, spicy roasted red pepper and feta dip, dates, and a baguette.

Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips

Sabrina Snyder from Dinner Then Dessert
Pickled Turnips are an absolute must in my house! My favorite pickle of ALL the pickles. Yep, I said what I said; they're that good!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Rest Time In The Fridge 4 days
Total Time 4 days 20 minutes
Course Pickles
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 12
Calories 29 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 medium pot
  • 1 large mason or pickle jar

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups water
  • 1/3 cup kosher salt MUST BE KOSHER SALT. Do not use table salt or sea salt.
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 2 lbs turnips peeled and cut into 1/2″ thick batons
  • 1 beet small beet; cut into 1/2" thick batons
  • 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a medium sized pot, add the water, Kosher salt, and bay leaves. Heat on medium-high heat, stirring until salt is completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Let cool completely, then stir in the vinegar.
  • In a large container with a tight-fitting lid, add your turnips and beets, then add the garlic on top.
  • Pour the liquid over the turnips into the container.
  • Let sit in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Notes

These Pickled Turnips are good for a solid month in the fridge, but I doubt they’ll last that long! 
Keyword Fridge Pickles, Homemade Pickles

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8 Comments

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  5. Ledia
    January 5, 2023 at 11:03 PM  ·  Reply

    5 stars
    Perfect pickled turnips. They are my favorites. Especially during winter season I make sure to always have them in my fridge. They go well with mezes or just as a snack (especially for those pregnancy cravings)
    This authentic recipe is easy and fast to make.

  6. Ike
    February 2, 2023 at 12:59 PM  ·  Reply

    5 stars
    Just tried these this last weekend. Turned out great! Yummy yummy, definitely recommend for folks to try them out.

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