Đồ Chua Recipe

Lastest Updated June 22, 2024
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Đồ chua (Vietnamese pickled carrots and daikon) are versatile and essential condiments in Vietnamese cuisine. In this treat, crunchy carrots and daikon are pickled to perfection in a sweet and tangy vinegar-based solution, creating an addicting flavor.

This simple yet tasty side dish goes exceptionally well with many classic delicacies from Vietnam. In today’s easy-to-follow recipe, I’ll show you how to make đồ chua at home effortlessly. Let’s get started!

The Exciting World Of Vietnamese Pickles

Pickles are an important part of Vietnamese food culture, adding a zest and sweetness to everyday meals. Before getting to the actual recipe, let’s first go through some popular pickled dishes that Vietnamese people enjoy.

First on the list is this recipe made with julienned carrots and daikon bathed in a tangy and sweet vinegar solution. It’s always a big hit when paired with cơm tấm (broken rice), bánh mì, bún thịt nướng (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles), and many more.

Dưa chua (pickled mustard greens) is another one. It’s a must-have food during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration. Locals love dưa chua as a side dish for greasy treats and use it in dishes like roasted pork stir fry and mustard green soup. Cà pháo muối (pickled Thai white eggplants) is also a favorite Vietnamese pickle.

Tools for Preparing Đồ Chua

This section will include all the necessary tools for making Vietnamese pickled carrots and daikon.

  • Knife and chopping board: For slicing up and julienning the vegetables.
  • Saucepan: For making the vinegar solution. 
  • Glass jar: Remember to sterilize the jar to ensure food safety. Avoid plastic jars, as the Dua Chua won’t last as long.
  • Mixing bowl: Use a large bowl to mix the vegetables comfortably.
  • Wooden spoon: For stirring the ingredients.
  • Food prep gloves: Help keep the food smell from your hands while mixing the veggies.
  • Clean towel: For patting the carrots and daikon; useful for removing excess moisture.
Tools For Making Do Chua

Đồ Chua Ingredients

Regarding the ingredients, daikon and carrots are the vegetables of choice. You’ll also need to prepare vinegar and a couple of spices to make the solution.

  • Daikon: Crunchy and slightly sweet vegetable that’s also super healthy.
  • Carrots: Adds vibrant color and a little more sweetness to the pickle. Carrots generally have more rigid flesh than daikon, so it’s best that you julienne them thinner.
  • Granulated sugar: The main sweetener of the dish. You can also use other kinds of sugar. However, white sugar blends best with vinegar, giving the dish a better color.
  • Vinegar: The ideal tangy base for the pickle solution.
  • Other spices: salt and brown sugar
Granulated Sugar

Directions to Make Đồ Chua

Now that you have all the needed ingredients and tools prepped, let’s get to the fun part: making Vietnamese đồ chua.

Step 1: Marinate The Vegetables

Rinse the carrots and daikon with clean water. Then, peel and slice them diagonally. Next, julienne the vegetables, cutting the carrot sticks thinner than the daikon sticks.

Rinse The Carrots And Daikon

Season the daikon and carrots with 2 teaspoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes. You can use a wooden spoon for this step or mix them with your hands (remember to wear food prep gloves).

Season The Daikon And Carrots

Note

Sugar improves the vegetables’ crispness, and salt reduces their pungent smells.

Step 2: Make The Vinegar Solution

In the meantime, place the saucepan on the stove. Add the vinegar and sugar to the pan. Boil the mixture, stirring it with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar.

Once done, remove the vinegar solution from the heat and let it cool completely.

Make The Vinegar Solution

Step 3: Rinse The Daikon And Carrots

After 30 minutes, squeeze the vegetables to remove excess liquid. Rinse them 2 to 3 times.

Squeeze The Vegetables

Drain the vegetables.

Drain The Vegetables

Pat the daikon and carrots with a clean towel to thoroughly dry them.

Pat The Daikon And Carrots

After that, put the veggies in a glass jar.

Put The Veggies In Glass Jar

Step 4: Pickle The Vegetables

Pour the vinegar solution into jars. Make sure that the vegetables are fully submerged in the solution. Then, seal the jars and pickle for at least 3 to 4 hours.

Pickle The Vegetables

Step 5: Serve Your Đồ Chua

Your pickle is ready for serving with other main dishes. Or you can add these flavor-packed vegetables to your salad!

Serve Your Do Chua

Tips When Making Đồ Chua

Here are some great tips when pickling đồ chua with the best way to store this delicious dish here.

  • Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar, salt, and vinegar to your liking.
  • You can use a vegetable peeler to julienne the carrots and daikon quickly. However, I prefer not to do this as I find the vegetable sticks a little too thin, which affects the dish’s texture.
  • To lengthen the shelf life of your pickles, try to squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
  • Some people like to add garlic and chili pepper to their recipe during pickling. You can try doing so if you want to add some spiciness to the dish.
  • Always use clean utensils when scooping the pickled vegetables out of the jars.
  • To store this food, put the whole jar (sealed) in the fridge. It will last for about 1 month.
Tip Vietnamese Do Chua

Enhance Any Dish Flavor With Đồ Chua!

Pickled carrots and daikon are vital condiments to complete your Vietnamese meals and an immaculate choice to pair with a wide range of other recipes. Whenever you need something light, tangy, and sweet to balance the flavors, grab your jar of đồ chua and spoon out some!

Please drop a comment below to let me know your thoughts on this Vietnamese recipe and your favorite dishes to enjoy with them. Moreover, kindly give the post a 5-star rating and share it on your social media so more people would know about this Vietnamese classic.

Vietnamese Pickled Carrots And Daikon Recipe

Đồ Chua Recipe (Vietnamese Pickled Carrots And Daikon)

Đồ chua, aka Vietnamese pickled carrots and daikon, is a common side dish served with other main dishes. Check out today's recipe to learn how to make it at home!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Non-course Dish
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: Đồ Chua, Vietnamese Pickled Carrots And Daikon
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free, Gluten-free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 124kcal

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Knife
  • Chopping Board
  • Glass Jar
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Food Prep Gloves
  • Kitchen Towel

Ingredients

  • 1.3 pounds daikon
  • 0.9 pounds carrots
  • 0.5 pounds sugar
  • 12 fluid ounces vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

  • Rinse the carrots and daikon with clean water. Peel and slice them diagonally.
    Julienne the vegetables, cutting the carrot sticks thinner than the daikon sticks.
    Rinse The Carrots And Daikon
  • Season the daikon and carrots with brown sugar and salt.
    Mix well and marinate for 30 minutes.
    Season The Daikon And Carrots
  • In the meantime, place the saucepan on the stove. Add the vinegar and sugar to the pan.
    Boil the mixture, stirring it with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. Once done, remove the vinegar solution from the heat and let it cool completely.
    Make The Vinegar Solution
  • After 30 minutes, squeeze the vegetables to remove excess liquid. Rinse them 2 to 3 times.
    Squeeze The Vegetables
  • Drain the vegetables.
    Drain The Vegetables
  • Pat the daikon and carrots with a clean towel to thoroughly dry them.
    Pat The Daikon And Carrots
  • After that, put the veggies in a glass pickle jar.
    Put The Veggies In Glass Jar
  • Pour the vinegar solution into jars. Seal the jars and pickle for at least 3 to 4 hours.
    Pickle The Vegetables
  • Enjoy!
    Serve Your Do Chua

Video

Notes

  • The total time is enough to make about 10 servings.
  • Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar, salt, and even vinegar to your liking.
  • You can use a vegetable peeler to quickly julienne the carrots and daikon. However, I prefer not to do this as I find the vegetable sticks a little too thin, which affects the dish’s texture.
  • To lengthen the shelf life of your pickles, try to squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
  • Some people like to add garlic and chili pepper to their recipe during pickling. You can try doing so if you want to add some spiciness to the dish.
  • Always use clean utensils when scooping the pickled vegetables out of the jars.
  • To store đồ chua, put the whole jar (sealed) in the fridge. It will last for about 1 month.

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 6820IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Richie

Richie

Content Writer

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert

Education

Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Vietnamese and Asian cuisines with intensive training and hands-on approach.

Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam

  • Program: Bartender
  • Focus: Basic knowledge on how to store, preserve and select ingredients, and practice cocktails, mocktails, hot and cold drinks.

Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.

Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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