Pickled Rainbow Carrot Salad

This was one of those dishes where it came out great, but was not what I had planned in the beginning. Let me explain.

I had picked up some beautiful rainbow carrots at a local market. They come in colors ranging from yellow to purplish red. I wanted to make something special with them, highlighting their vibrant colors. I liked the idea of a kind of pickled carrot. Made up the recipe as I went along. I knew the flavors would go well with the rest of the dinner that was planned. The carrot salad worked out so well. Great flavors- but there was a problem.

I had used a red wine vinegar and by the time everything was done cooking, the color of the carrots had changed. They all looked, well, like regular carrots. No one knew the difference, except me. I felt bad that I had cooked all the color out of the rainbow carrots, but the flavor was good. I guess, in the end, that is what really matters.

So here is the recipe. Feel free to use what ever color carrots you like- it won’t matter in the end!!

Pickled Rainbow Carrot Salad

2 medium onions, peeled and sliced

3-4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 c. vinegar- red wine or cider vinegar preferred

1 c. water

1 ½ lbs. carrots, peeled and sliced

1 sweet pepper, seeded and chopped

2 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped

½ c. sugar

1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley

2 t. salt, or to taste

Fresh ground pepper to taste

1 t. ground ginger

Hot sauce to taste

1 bay leaf

In saucepan, combine onions and garlic with the water and vinegar and bring to a boil. Prepare other veggies while onions simmer for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, covered about 20 minutes.  Adjust seasonings. Let salad cool down, then store in fridge until ready to serve. Best served the next day. Remove bay leaf and garlic cloves before serving.