Old Fashioned Copper Pennies is a marinated sweet and sour carrot, onion, and pepper recipe that may be served as either a side dish or salad.
I'm showing my "vintage" today with this recipe. It's one of those oldie-goldies that most southern cooks my age have in their recipe box.
This one has been served at more church suppers and company dinners than you could count. It was one of my grandmother's favorites - I thought about her the whole time I was making this.
Since it's been around for so long, I don't know if anyone can really say where this Copper Pennies carrot recipe originated. This is really nothing more than carrots, onions, and peppers in a sweet and sour marinade, but it takes its name from the carrots, obviously, which become the "copper pennies" of the dish.
This is a great side dish for lots of different meats but goes particularly well with fried chicken, roast turkey, or pork chops.
How to Make Copper Pennies
Start by peeling the carrots and cutting them into ¼” rounds. Cook the carrots in a small amount of salted water until barely tender, approximately 8 minutes.
Thinly slice the bell pepper. Cut the onion(s) in half then thinly slice and separate the onion rings.
Combine the cooked carrots, onions, and bell pepper in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, place the tomato soup, vinegar, sugar, oil, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Stir to combine well.
Pour the marinade mixture over the vegetables. Toss so that all the vegetables are well coated with the marinade.
Cover refrigerate several hours or overnight.
To serve, remove the vegetables from the marinade using a slotted spoon and serve in a lettuce lined bowl (optional). Return any leftover vegetables to the marinade and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Some people swear you can keep this in the refrigerator for up to six weeks, but I'm not going along with that. After about 4 days the onions start getting too mushy for my taste. Besides, it's usually gone after one or two meals, anyway :-) !
You May Also Like ...
You May Also Like ...- Fire and Ice Tomatoes
- Vintage Hot Fudge Pie
- Egg Custard Pie
- Chocolate Meringue Pie
- Old Fashioned Cornbread
- Coke Floats
Like This Recipe? Pin It!
Have you tried this recipe? I'd love for you to give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card and/or in the comments section further down.
You can always stay in touch on social media by following me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest and Sign Up to Get my Newsletter, too!
Copper Pennies
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh carrots
- 2 medium sweet onions
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 10.75 ounces condensed tomato soup
- ¾ cup white vinegar
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ½ cup cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Peel the carrots and cut them into ¼” rounds.
- Cook the carrots in a small amount of salted water until barely tender, approximately 8 minutes.
- Cut the onion(s) in half. Thinly slice and separate the onion.
- Thinly slice the bell pepper.
- Combine the cooked carrots, onions and bell pepper in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine well.
- Pour marinade over vegetables. Toss so that all vegetables are coated with the marinade.
- Cover and allow to sit in refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
- Remove vegetables from the marinade using a slotted spoon and serve in lettuce lined bowl (optional).
- Return any leftover vegetables to the marinade and keep in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
-- This post was originally published on January 18, 2011.
More Marinated Salad Recipes ...
- Marinated Vegetable Salad from Iowa Girl Eats
- Jessica's Marinated Chickpeas from Cookie + Kate
- Italian Marinated Salad from Eating Well
- Marinated Chopped Salad from Spend With Pennies
Kay says
LOVE this! We had this at our church Thanksgiving dinner today and I couldn't get enough! Came right home to find the recipe on your blog! I'll be making a huge batch for family dinners this week! Yummmmmmo!
Sandy says
I love this salad! My grandmother used to make it for me... it was the only way I would eat carrots. Thanks for reviving it.
megan says
Might be a vintage recipe but it's new to me. A great side dish!
Sues says
Hehe when I saw this in my reader I had no idea what a food post about "copper pennies" was going to be. Now I know! They look awesome!
Lana says
Funny name, isn't it? I do hope you'll try this recipe. Almost everyone loves it.
Nutmeg Nanny says
This looks really tasty! Something different to serve with dinner or lunch...yum!
Jocelyn says
Oh my gosh, thanks for bringing back an old memory and an old family favourite of the times! My son when just a youngster, who is now creeping close to 50, would almost swoon when I put this dish on the table! lol!!
Lana says
I'm so glad I could rekindle that memory for you, Jocelyn. One of the things I enjoy most about blogging is posting an old-fashioned recipe and seeing just that reaction!
Drick says
you are so right, this one should be back on everyone's table as it is a wonderful reflection of good, southern food - I have not thought about copper pennies in a long time and I am so glad you brought it back to my attention, there are so few good carrot recipes, and this side is an outstanding one that if I remember, goes well with everything....
Lana says
It does go with just about anything, Drick. Roasted or fried meats are equally good with this little side dish.
Nisrine | Dinners & Dreams says
Great pickles and a nice change from the usual cornichons. I will give it a try.
Lana says
Hi Nisrine - This is actually not a pickle. Although it has a small amount of vinegar in the marinade, it is actually a vegetable side dish or can be served as a salad. But definitely not a pickle.
Happier Than A Pig in Mud says
I love all kinds of pickles and I've never heard of this! Looking forward to trying it-thanks:@)
Lana says
I do hope you'll try it. Although, it's really not a pickle. It's served as either a vegetable side dish or as the salad course.