A Guide To Pickling Anything

What Is Pickling All About?

Pickling is a process o preserving food by soaking it in vinegar or brine (a mixture of salt and water). It can be used to protect any kind of vegetable, a lot of fruits, meats, and other foods like eggs. Use pickles in your lunchtime sarnie to inject more flavour into your dinner, or just as a late-night snack straight from the jar. Essentially, pickling elongates the life of any perishable item as the acidic solution prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, which contributes to the delicious pickle's characteristic sour and tangy taste.

A Jar Of History

Wise old folk began pickling more than 4,000 years ago in India when cucumbers were soaked in acidic brine to preserve them. Pickling was initially used to keep food for long periods, especially during the winter when fresh produce was unavailable. The method of preservation spread to the Middle East, Europe and eventually America and stuck!

To Reduce Waste

By preserving fresh produce and meats, pickling extends their shelf life and allows you to enjoy them even when they're no longer in season. Pickling can also be a creative solution for using up produce that may not be at its prime, such as overripe fruits and vegetables. You can still enjoy their flavour and get the most out of your food by pickling them. You can reuse any old jars you've collected, which are far more suitable than single-use containers.

Four Reasons You Should Get Into A Pickle

• Probiotics: Pickling can provide beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics, to improve gut health.
• Antioxidants: Some pickled foods, such as pickled vegetables, can be rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against cellular damage.
• Sodium: Pickling can be a good source of sodium, which is essential for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body.
• Flavour: Pickling can add flavour to foods and reduce the need for high-calorie condiments and sauces.

How to Pickle

This simple pickle recipe can be used to pickle any fruit or vegetable just add some extra herbs or spices to change it up if you feel like getting creative.

Ingredients:

• 300 mls water
• 300 Vinegar
• 1.5 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 star anise

You can experiment with different spices, herbs, and sweeteners to create your own unique pickling blend.

Optional:

• Garlic
• Peppercorns
• Turmeric
• Mustard seeds
• Chilli flakes
• Fennel seeds
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Juniper berries
• Citrus fruits
  

Must Do's!

It is essential to use clean pickling jars. Scrub clean with hot soapy water, rinse and boil the jars in a large deep pot for 10 minutes and allow to cool.

Method:

Yield 600ml pickling liquid:

In a pot, add the water, vinegar, sugar, salt, Bay leaves and star anise. Bring to the boil.

Simple add your vegetables or fruit to a jar and, pour over the hot pickling liquid, fill right to the top. Close the lid while still hot.

Our Favourite Combinations

• Cucumber, Mustard Seeds, and Dill
• Capsicum, Garlic, and Chilli
• Red Onion and Lay leaf
• Eggplant, Chilli and Garlic
• Strawberry, Cinnamon & Star Anise
• Plum Pickle (Umeboshi) with mint or basil