Đồ Chua (Vietnamese Pickled Carrots and Daikon)

Name: Do Chua (Vietnamese Pickled Carrots and Daikon)
Prep time: PT0D0H0M
Cook time: PT0D1H45M
Total time: PT0D1H45M
Yield: Makes 1 quart
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: ¾ lb. fresh daikon, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks (3¼ cups); 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks (1½ cups); 1 tsp. fine sea salt; ½ cup plus 2 tsp. sugar, divided; 1¼ cups distilled white vinegar

Crunchy and bright with a briny zip, these julienned root vegetables are the perfect companion for any grilled or roasted meat dish.

Serves
Makes 1 quart
Time
1 hour 45 minutes

PHOTO: DAVID MALOSH • FOOD STYLING: PEARL JONES • PROP STYLING: SOPHIE STRANGIO

By Andrea Nguyen

Updated on January 10, 2023

A jar of the Vietnamese carrot and daikon radish pickles known as đồ chua (”sour stuff“) can add a welcome pop of color, crunch, and tang to a wide range of traditional dishes including banh mi, bun cha, and grilled and roasted meats. Large white daikon radish is classic but can be swapped out for more colorful varieties or even purple turnips. Don’t be alarmed if the pickles turn stinky as they age; simply open the jar and let it air out for 15 minutes before using.

Featured in “Follow These Five Steps to the Best Banh Mi.”

Ingredients

¾ lb. fresh daikon, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks (3¼ cups)
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks (1½ cups)
1 tsp. fine sea salt
½ cup plus 2 tsp. sugar, divided
1¼ cups distilled white vinegar

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Instructions

Step 1

To a medium bowl, add the daikon and carrots. Toss with the salt and 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Set aside and allow the vegetables soften until you can bend a piece of daikon so the tips touch without breaking, about 20 minutes.

Step 2

Rinse the vegetables well with cold water, then drain, squeezing to expel any excess liquid. Transfer the vegetables to a clean, quart-sized glass jar.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, stir together the vinegar, 1 cup of water, and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Pour enough of the liquid into the jar to completely cover the vegetables, discarding any excess. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour, then use the pickles immediately, or cover tightly and store in the fridge for up to 1 month.

To a medium bowl, add the daikon and carrots. Toss with the salt and 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Set aside and allow the vegetables soften until you can bend a piece of daikon so the tips touch without breaking, about 20 minutes.
Rinse the vegetables well with cold water, then drain, squeezing to expel any excess liquid. Transfer the vegetables to a clean, quart-sized glass jar.
In a medium bowl, stir together the vinegar, 1 cup of water, and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Pour enough of the liquid into the jar to completely cover the vegetables, discarding any excess. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour, then use the pickles immediately, or cover tightly and store in the fridge for up to 1 month.