Asian Pickles, a quick and easy refrigerator cucumber pickle recipe with fresh cucumbers, green onion, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger. This Asian-style homemade pickle recipe has the best sweet and tangy flavor and is perfect as a crunchy snack, sandwich topping, or fresh side dish!
If you’re craving something crisp, flavorful, and a little different from your usual cucumber pickle recipe, these Asian Pickles are a must-try! Thin cucumber slices soak in a simple homemade brine with vinegar, ginger, green onion, and delicious Asian-inspired flavors.
These Asian pickles are not necessarily authentic and not dill pickles, but they are delicious in their own right. You can serve them after 30 minutes or let them sit in the fridge overnight.
The best part of these pickles? No complicated canning required for this easy refrigerator pickle recipe! Just slice your cucumbers, heat the quick brine, pour everything into a jar, and let the refrigerator do the work.
You can also make this recipe your own with fun additions like garlic, spicy red peppers, jalapeno slices, sesame seeds, or even a little extra ginger. These sweet and savory pickles are great with sandwiches, pork dishes, burgers, salads, slaw, and so much more.
What are Refrigerator Pickles
Refrigerator pickles are quick homemade pickles that are stored in the fridge instead of being preserved through traditional canning. Fresh cucumbers are sliced and covered with a flavorful vinegar-based brine, then chilled until they soak up all the flavors.
Unlike canned pickles, refrigerator pickles do not require special equipment, sterilizing jars, or a long preserving process. They are one of the easiest ways to make homemade pickles because you just prepare the cucumbers, make a simple brine, and store everything in a jar in the refrigerator.
You can make refrigerator pickles with all kinds of flavors and ingredients. Classic versions often include vinegar, garlic, dill, mustard seeds, or spices, while Asian-style pickles may include rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, and green onion. You can even add jalapeno or red pepper flakes if you’re craving a spicy pickle.
Because they are not canned, refrigerator pickles should be stored in the fridge and eaten within a shorter amount of time. The result is a fresh, crisp, and crunchy cucumber pickle that’s perfect for snacks, sandwiches, burgers, slaw, and more!
What I Love About This Recipe
- These homemade Asian-style cucumber pickles are so quick and easy to make with simple ingredients. You don’t need traditional canning supplies or a lot of time because these are refrigerator pickles made right in a jar. The fresh cucumber slices soak up the sweet vinegar and ginger brine for the best crunchy texture. They’re perfect when you need a fast side dish or snack.
- I love how simple it is to customize this recipe depending on your favorite flavors. Add garlic, spicy jalapeno, red pepper flakes, mustard seeds, or extra green onion for a fun twist. The basic brine is easy to change depending on your taste. Make them mild, sweet, or spicy!
- These crunchy pickles go with just about everything. Add them to a sandwich, burger, Asian slaw, rice bowl, or serve with grilled chicken or pork. They add a fresh cucumber crunch and a pop of flavor to everyday meals. A little jar in the fridge can quickly upgrade lunch or dinner.
- This is one of the best recipes for using small cucumbers when they are fresh and in season. The cucumbers stay crisp and soak up the homemade brine perfectly. Since there is no complicated canning process, you can make a batch anytime. It’s a simple gourmet-style recipe that tastes like it took way more effort.
Equipment You May Need
- Mason Jar – A large glass jar works great for storing the cucumbers and brine in the refrigerator.
- Small Saucepan – Needed to quickly heat the vinegar mixture and dissolve the sugar and salt.
- Whisk – Helps mix the homemade pickle brine ingredients together.
- Sharp Knife or Mandoline – A good knife or mandoline makes it easy to get thin, even cucumber slices.
- Cutting Board – Helpful for prepping the cucumbers, green onions, and any extra add-ins.
(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)
Asian Pickles Ingredients
- Cucumbers – Small cucumbers work best for this recipe and give you a nice, crisp, and crunchy texture. Slice thinly so they soak up all the flavor.
- Green Onion – Adds a fresh mild onion flavor that goes great with the Asian-inspired ingredients.
- Water – Helps create the base of the simple homemade pickle brine.
- Rice Vinegar – Gives these refrigerator pickles their tangy flavor. Rice vinegar has a slightly milder taste than some other vinegars. There are many types. I used a white rice vinegar, but you can use your favorite.
- Sugar – Balances the vinegar and salty flavors with a little sweetness.
- Sesame Oil – Adds a rich sesame flavor that makes these pickles a little different from classic cucumber pickles. I used an untoasted sesame oil, but you can use your favorite.
- Soy Sauce – Adds savory flavor and a little saltiness to the brine.
- Kosher Salt – Helps season the cucumbers and bring out their flavor.
- Ginger Paste – Gives the pickles a fresh Asian-inspired taste.
How to Make Asian Pickles
Step One: Prepare the Cucumbers
Place sliced cucumbers and green onion in a mason jar or large glass container.
Step Two: Make the Pickle Brine
Add water, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, and ginger to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers, cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate overnight before serving.
(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)
Serving Suggestions
- Eat these Asian Pickles straight from the refrigerator as a quick, crunchy snack.
- Add cucumber slices to your favorite sandwich, wrap, or burger for extra flavor.
- Serve alongside grilled pork, chicken, seafood, or your favorite Asian-style dinners.
- Chop and mix into a homemade slaw with cabbage, carrots, and green onion.
- Add spicy pickles with jalapeno or red pepper flakes to rice bowls, noodle dishes, or salads.
- Serve with appetizers for an easy, sweet, and tangy bite.
Quick Tips for Best Results
- Use small, thin, fresh cucumbers for the best crispy and crunchy texture.
- Slice cucumbers thinly so they absorb more of the ginger vinegar brine.
- Make sure all cucumber slices stay covered with liquid while stored in the jar.
- Add garlic, jalapeno, mustard seed, or other spices if you want a spicy pickle recipe.
- Keep these pickles in the refrigerator since this is a quick refrigerator recipe and not a traditional canning recipe.
Asian Pickles FAQ
How should I store Asian Pickles?
Store the pickles covered in a mason jar or an airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Keep the cucumbers covered in the brine for the best flavor and texture.
Can I freeze Asian Pickles?
I would not recommend freezing these pickles. The cucumbers can lose their crisp and crunchy texture after freezing and thawing.
How long will these Asian Pickles last?
These quick refrigerator pickles should last about 1-2 weeks in the fridge when stored properly in a covered container.
Substitutions?
Instead of granulated sugar, you could use honey or your favorite sweetener.
Can I use low-fat ingredients?
These pickles are already fairly low-fat. You can adjust ingredients like sesame oil if needed, but it will change the overall flavor.
What else can I add to this recipe?
You can add other flavors such as garlic, sesame seeds, hot peppers, chili flakes, or your favorite spices. There are lots of ways to customize the brine.
Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.
Vegan – Use a vegan-friendly soy sauce brand.
Vegetarian – It’s vegetarian. Be sure to check individual brands/products just to be sure though.
Low-Carb – You can try a sugar substitute for a lower-carb option.
Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Other Recipes You May Enjoy
- Asian Slaw – A crunch side dish full of fresh flavor.
- Spicy Pickles – Another overnight refrigerator pickles that are full of spice!
- Pickled Onions – Pickled red onions that are great on sandwiches, salads, and more.
Hope you enjoy this Asian Pickles recipe. Tell me in the comments if you add any other ingredients.
If you like pickles, you may also like these Pickle Chicken Burgers!
Asian Pickles
Ingredients
- 1 cup thinly sliced small cucumbers (about 2 small cucumbers)
- 1 Tablespoon green onion sliced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
Instructions
- Place cucumbers and green onion in mason jar.
- Meanwhile, place water, vinegar, sugar, oil, soy sauce, salt, and ginger in small saucepan over high heat. Whisk until the mixture comes to a boil. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers. Cool slightly, then place top on jar and refrigerate overnight before serving. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
- We had better luck with small cucumbers rather than larger ones.
- Make sure your cucumbers are completely covered with the liquid.
- You can add other flavors such as garlic, sesame seeds, peppers, etc.
- For a less strong flavor, you can refrigerate for only 30 minutes to an hour rather than overnight.
- Instead of granulated sugar, you could use honey or your favorite sweetener.
- Instead of a large mason jar, you could use another large container, although I would suggest not using plastic.
Nutrition:
(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)
About Lisa Huff
Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites.
