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Tag: Pickled & Fermented

Stuffed Olive Cocktail Picks

Stuffed Olive Cocktail Picks

Stuffed Olive Cocktail Picks

 

10 5-inch cocktail picks or skewers

 

olives (you’re going to need a total of 60 olives)

 

24 small readymade stuffed olives, choose different types from your olive bar or condiment aisle.

Boursin Stuffed Olives

 

12 pitted black olives

1/2 cup Boursin cheese

2 Tbsp cream, to thin the cheese

 

Jalapeño cream cheese stuffed olives

 

12 pitted green olives

1/2 cup cream cheese

1 small jalapeño, chopped

 

marinated stuffed olives

 

12 jarred pimento stuffed olives

4 Tbsp chili crisp

 

Stir together the Boursin and cream until it is smooth. You want it to be thin enough to pipe into your olives, so add a bit more cream if yours is very thick. Load into a small piping bag (or baggie) and cut a very small snip off the tip. Pipe the cheese into the hole of each olive. Blend cream cheese with chopped peppers in a small food processor until very smooth and creamy. You don’t want any larger bits of pepper because they can get caught in the piping tip. Load into a small piping bag (or baggie) and cut a very small snip off the tip. Pipe the cheese into the hole of each olive Put the stuffed olives in a small bowl and top with chili crisp. Stir to combine and let sit for at least an hour, or overnight in the fridge. You should have about 60 olives, allowing about 6 to each pick. Thread the olives on your cocktail picks, alternating types for a pretty presentation. If your picks are shorter or longer than mine, adjust the olives to fit. These picks are best served soon after assembling, but you can keep them covered in a damp cloth or paper towels in the fridge for a few hours if you need to.

Pickled Sweet-and-Sour Radishes

Pickled Sweet-and-Sour Radishes

Pickled Sweet-and-Sour Radishes

 

1 large bunch radishes (12 if big, 20 if small)

½ cup white wine vinegar

¾ cup sugar

1½ tsp. salt

3 tsp. pickling spice

 

Remove the leaves, root end and root hairs from the radishes. Brush under cold water and dry. Leave the radishes whole if very small, or half/quarter them depending on size. I prefer cutting them to make sure they don’t contain any worms. Pack in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Place the jar on a folded damp kitchen towel (that prevents it from cracking when you add the hot liquid). In a small pot, bring vinegar, sugar, salt and pickling spice to a boil, scraping down the sides and stirring, until the sugar is fully dissolved. Pour the hot liquid with the spices over the radishes. They should be fully immersed; add more vinegar and sugar in the same ratio if needed. Let cool, then close the jar tightly. Refrigerate for a day before eating.

Dill Pickle Martini

Dill Pickle Martini

Dill Pickle Martini

 

2 cups ice

1 and ½ ounce dill pickle juice

4 and ½ ounce vodka see post above for substitutions

1 slice dill pickle for garnish

 

Fill shaker with ice. Add dill pickle juice and vodka. Shake. Strain into chilled martini glass and garnish. Enjoy!

Garlicky Fermented Radishes

Garlicky Fermented Radishes

Garlicky Fermented Radishes

 

3 cups sliced fresh radishes

2-3 whole garlic cloves (peeled)

3.5 tsp sea salt (non-iodized)

4 cups filtered water

 

Thoroughly clean your mason jar, lid, and cutting before getting started. Boil the water for five minutes, then measure out 3.5 cups of water and stir in the salt until it dissolves. Allow the brine to cool to room temperature. Place the peeled garlic cloves in the mason jar. Slice the radishes thinly and pack them into the fermenting jar, leaving about 1.5 inches of headspace between the top of the radishes and the lid. Pour the room temperature salt brine over the radishes until they are completely covered, leaving at least one inch of headspace between the top of the brine and the lid. Place a weight inside the mouth of the jar to keep your radishes under the brine. Place the lid on the jar and set up the airlock if you’re using one. Allow the jar to ferment at room temperature for 3-5 days, depending on how tangy you want them to be. Keep it out of direct sunlight – I keep mine in a shady area of my kitchen or one of my kitchen cabinets. Taste your fermented radishes starting on day 3, and when it reaches a flavor that you like transfer it to the fridge. If you’re using a lid with an airlock, replace it with a regular mason jar lid before storing it. Since the time can vary based on several factors, the prep time estimate does not include the step of boiling and cooling the brine. If you’re using a regular lid (no airlock) you will need to “burp” your jars periodically, otherwise carbon dioxide levels can build up within your jar and cause it to explode. Check the metal lid every day – if you can’t push it down simply unscrew the lit a bit and then immediately tighten it back down. Using an airlock which allows the gases to release eliminates the need to burp your jars

Spicy Pickled Rainbow Chard Stems

Spicy Pickled Rainbow Chard Stems

Spicy Pickled Rainbow Chard Stems

 

1-2 bunches rainbow chard, stems removed, cleaned

¼ C. distilled white vinegar

1 C. unseasoned rice wine vinegar

1½ tsp. kosher salt

4 T. sugar or raw honey

½ tsp. dill seeds

½ tsp. celery seeds

½ tsp. whole mixed peppercorns

½ tsp. yellow mustard seeds

½ tsp. crushed red pepper seeds

2 small cloves garlic, cut in half

 

In a small saucepan, combine vinegars, salt and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Combine seeds, peppercorns and garlic and divide mixture in half. Place into two jars. Cut stems to fit into pint-size mason jars about 1 inch from the lip. Pack stems tightly into each jar. Pour the prepared brine over chard stems and cover jars with secure lids. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days to allow the flavors to develop fully. Pickled stems will keep in the refrigerator for one month.

Coriander & Orange Pickled Radish

Coriander & Orange Pickled Radish

Coriander & Orange Pickled Radish

 

¾ C. plus 2 T. Apple Cider Vinegar

4 strips unwaxed Orange Peel

1 T. Coriander Seeds

7 oz. thinly sliced Radishes

 

Pour the apple cider vinegar into a small saucepan. Add the orange peel, coriander seeds, and salt and place the pan on medium heat. Bring the liquid to a boil, then immediately remove the pan from the heat. Set it aside and let the liquid cool slightly. Pack the radish slices into a sterilized l-pint/5 00ml jar, pour in the cooled liquid (including the seeds and peel) to cover, then seal and refrigerate. You can eat the pickles immediately, although they will benefit from 1 hour in the pickling liquid first, and will get stronger over time. Use within 4 weeks.

Cucumber & Fennel Refrigerator Pickles

Cucumber & Fennel Refrigerator Pickles

Cucumber & Fennel Refrigerator Pickles

 

¾ C. plus 2 T. Apple Cider Vinegar

1 T. Fennel Seeds

1 large Cucumber, thinly sliced

1 T. Salt

 

Pour the apple cider vinegar into a saucepan. Add the fennel seeds, x/4 cup/6Oml of water, and the salt and place the pan on medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately remove the pan from the heat and set it aside for the liquid to cool slightly. Meanwhile, pack the sliced cucumber into a sterilized 1-pint/500ml jar (see note). Pour the cooled liquid from the saucepan (including the seeds) into the jar to cover the cucumber slices, seal the jar, and refrigerate. The pickles are ready to use immediately, although the flavor will intensify over time. Use the pickles within 4 weeks. A note on sterilizing jars: Preheat the oven to 2 75 °F. Wash the jars and lids with clean, soapy water and rinse (but don’t dry) them. Place the jars and lids upside down on a baking sheet and transfer them to the oven for 15-20 minutes. Fill and seal the jars while they are still hot.

Sunchoke Pickle

Sunchoke Pickle

1½ lbs sunchokes (a.k.a. Jerusalem artichokes), thoroughly scrubbed and cut into ½-inch dice

1 teaspoon ground dried turmeric

1 ounces garlic (about 8 cloves), chopped

½ ounce fresh ginger, minced (about 1 ½ tablespoons)

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

2 teaspoons pickling salt

2 teaspoons sugar

1½ cups water

 

Toss together sunchokes, turmeric, garlic, ginger, and cumin. Pack the mixture into a jar with a capacity of at least 6 cups. Dissolve salt and sugar in the water. Pour brine over sunchoke mixture; it will not cover them at first. Add a brine bag (a gallon freezer-weight plastic bag containing 1 tablespoon salt dissolved in 3 cups water) or another suitable weight. The next day the brine should cover the sunchokes. If it doesn’t, add more brine mixed in the same proportions. Wait several days before tasting the pickle. After a week, the brine will be still sour, and the Jerusalem artichokes pleasantly, mildly spicy and still crunchy. When the pickle has fermented enough to suit your taste, store the jar in the refrigerator. Keep sunchokes weighted and under the brine so they won’t take on a grayish cast.

Shiso Pickled Cucumber

Shiso Pickled Cucumber

Shiso Pickled Cucumber

 

16fl oz white wine vinegar

3oz caster (superfine) sugar

2 T. sea salt

12 black peppercorns

a few thin slices of ginger

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

1 thin red chilli, sliced lengthways and deseeded

1 good-sized cucumber, peeled and cut into 3mm (1∕8 in) half moons

8 large leaves of shiso, rolled and thinly sliced

 

Have a sterilized jar ready. In a pan, bring the vinegar, sugar, salt, peppercorns and ginger to a simmer, stirring to dissolve; simmer for 10 minutes. Put the garlic, chilli, half the cucumber and half the shiso into the jar. Pour two-thirds of the vinegar in, add the rest of the cucumber and shiso and top with the remaining vinegar. Refrigerate once cool. This should be excellent after a day, once the shiso loses a little pigment and flavor to the vinegar, and lasts for a week or so, after which the cucumber’s texture becomes a little gummy.

Quickles

Quickles

Quickles

 

Choose any one of the following (the quantity of which doesn’t matter that much, just chop or slice enough to comfortably fit in your jar with a little bit of room at the top):

 

4 to 6 celery stalks, cut to fit the size of your jar

1 English cucumber or 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced or cut into spears that fit your jar

1 red onion, beet, or fennel bulb, thinly sliced

1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced

4 to 6 fresh chilies, sliced

1 1/2 C. raisins or other dried fruit

 

1 cup cider, white wine, or rice vinegar

1 T. kosher salt

1 T. mustard, coriander, or cumin seeds

1 T. sugar

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, optional

Freshly ground black pepper

 

Place the vegetables, chilies, or dried fruit in a large resealable container (preferably glass). Combine the vinegar, salt, seeds, sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, if using, and several grinds of black pepper in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Give the pan a swirl or two to help the sugar and salt dissolve, then pour the mixture over the vegetables. Add water to cover and let cool to room temperature. Cover tightly and refrigerate up to a month. You can mix your vegetables when you pickle them if you like. Just remember that if you add chilies everything will be spicy; if you add a beet everything will be red, etc.

Pickling Spice Blend

Pickling Spice Blend

Pickling Spice Blend

 

1 tablespoons Mustard Seed

1 tablespoon Coriander Seed

1 tablespoon Caraway Seeds

1 Tablespoon Celery Seed

2 Whole Cloves

1 teaspoon Ground Ginger (or a fresh slice if using immediately)

1 teaspoon crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1 or 2 Bay Leaves, broken into pieces

1 teaspoon Whole Allspice Berries

1 teaspoon Black Peppercorns

1 teaspoon Whole Dill Seeds

Pickled Kohlrabi

Pickled Kohlrabi

Pickled Kohlrabi

 

Pickling Mixture

3/4 c white vinegar

1 1/4 c water

3 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dill seed

1 teaspoon mustard seed

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

 

Peel and slice 3 kohlrabi, 1/4 inch thick. Peel one carrot and slice into thin sticks. Parboil the carrot briefly (should yield to a fork but not be soft). Place raw kohlrabi, carrot, 2 crushed garlic cloves, 1 bay leaf, and a sprig of fresh dill into a quart canning jar. Heat pickling mixture to boiling and pour over the vegetable mixture in the jar, filling the jar completely. Let cool, then refrigerate for 3-4 days before use. Will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Green Tomato Relish

Green Tomato Relish

Green Tomato Relish

 

Slice:

One-half peck green tomatoes (about 8 lb)

12 bell peppers, about 1/3 red or as available

5 large onions (less if Spanish onions, which are larger)

1 large garlic bulb or about 8 cloves of garlic

 

In a crock: Layer these sliced vegetables with about 1/2 cup pickling salt; add scant teaspoon to finish as needed. Push  a clean plate down over the vegetables until brine covers them.  Cover the crock and set in cool corner overnight.   Drain and rinse after 12 hours (approximately).

 

Pickling mixture:   (Heat in resistant pan, enamel or stainless steel)

1 1/2 quarts cider vinegar

2 lb light brown sugar

1 T plus 1 t powdered ginger

1 T plus 1 t dry mustard

In infuser bag or wrapped in cheesecloth

2T whole cloves

2 sticks cinnamon

1 T celery seed

 

Add vegetables and simmer until translucent.  Try to avoid a heavy boil. Can these in pint jars for 15 minutes (hot water bath canning). Pickles can first be chopped in a food processor, taking care not to purée the relish. Allow pickles to mellow for 1 month before using.

Pickled Onions, Yucatan Style

Pickled Onions, Yucatan Style

Pickled Onions, Yucatan Style

 

1 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1 Cup Sugar

1 Bay Leaf

1 T. Yellow Mustard Seeds

3 Garlic Cloves, Peeled and Thinly Sliced

1 tsp. Coarse Sea Salt

2 Medium Red Onions, Thinly Sliced into Rings

 

In a medium sized saucepan put all of the ingredients except the onions and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes until the consistency is a little syrupy. Pour the hot mixture over the sliced onions. Cool completely to room temperature and place in a glass jar with a lid and refrigerate. Onions will keep, refrigerated, for at least a month.

Fermented Pineapple Salsa

Fermented Pineapple Salsa

Fermented Pineapple Salsa

2 C. chopped pineapple roughly 1/2 a pineapple

1* jalapeno pepper finely chopped

2 green onions thinly sliced

Sea Salt to taste

Black Pepper to taste

2 T. whey or liquid from another fermented veggie

 

Combine all ingredients in a small jar. Cover with cheesecloth or cotton fabric. Allow to ferment at room temperature for 8-12 hours. Chill in the refrigerator prior to serving at least 2 hours or up to a week.

Notes: 1 jalapeño pepper will make this salsa a little spicy, I would classify it as medium heat. If you want a mild salsa, I’d suggest starting out with 1/4 or 1/2 a jalapeño pepper to start out with and make sure you remove all the white membrane/seeds. If you love super-spicy foods then I’d recommend adding 2 jalapeños. For a salsa with no heat at all, substitute sweet red or green pepper.

Pickled Green Tomatoes

Pickled Green Tomatoes

Pickled Green Tomatoes

 

A couple lb. of hard green tomatoes

½ cup pickling and canning salt

4 or 5 garlic cloves, crushed

Extra virgin olive oil

1 T. fennel seeds and/or chiles to taste

 

Core the tough stem-end of the tomatoes and cut them into easy-to-eat sized slices, about ½-inch thick. Mix tomato slices, garlic, any spices, and the salt in a bowl. Layer salted slices in a non-reactive container (a large ceramic crock, glass jar, or deep bowl). Place a round of parchment on top and press it down onto slices. Put a flat plate about the diameter of the container on top of the parchment. Weight the plate with something heavy (a gallon paint can, a pail of rocks, etc). Put the crock(s) in a cool place for two weeks (we use our unheated garage), covered with plastic trash bags. After the two-week ferment, the pickles will have flattened some. Rinse in a colander and remove the garlic. Pack the rinsed tomatoes in sterilized jars and cover with olive oil, use a clean chopstick to remove any air bubbles, and make sure everything is submerged in oil. They are ready to eat right away. Refrigerate for up to 3 months (we’ve had them last closer to a year).

Fireweed Pickles

Fireweed Pickles

Fireweed Pickles

 

1 lb. fresh fireweed shoots

FOR THE BRINE:

1 T. mustard seeds

1 tsp. peppercorns

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

2 T. sea salt (or canning and pickling salt)

 

In a saucepan, combine all brine ingredients and bring to a boil. Then remove from heat. Rinse the fireweed shoots well. Sterilize your jars, either one quart, two pint jars, or four half-pint jars. Pack your jars tightly with the fireweed shoots and cover with the brine to 1/2 inch from top of jar. As you add the brine, you might be able to fit in more fireweed. Cover and cool in the refrigerator. Serve pickles with cheese and crackers, or salmon and cream cheese, or add to a spring omelet. Store jars in the refrigerator, and use within one month for best quality.

Mango Miso Salmon with Asparagus and Quick-Pickled Mango

Mango Miso Salmon with Asparagus and Quick-Pickled Mango

Mango Miso Salmon with Asparagus and Quick-Pickled Mango

3 mangoes, peeled and pitted (divided use)

1/2 cup white miso paste

1 cup plus 2 T. mirin (divided use)

3/4 cup cooking sake (divided use)

2 T. soy sauce

Four 6- to 7-ounce salmon fillets (or pieces of salmon belly), skin on

2 T. unseasoned rice wine vinegar

2 bunches asparagus, about 60 stalks total, tough ends trimmed

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

3 T. canola oil

1 T. unsalted butter

 

Roughly dice 2 mangoes and add them to the bowl of a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth; you should have nearly 1 cup of puree. In a medium bowl, combine miso paste, 1/2 cup mirin, 2/3 cup mango puree, 1/2 cup sake and soy sauce. Whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth. Transfer half the marinade to a separate bowl and add 2 T. mirin and remaining mango puree (you should have about 1/4 cup), stirring until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator. Place the salmon in a medium-size glass dish and cover with the remaining marinade. Cover with plastic wrap, transfer to the refrigerator and let chill for 24 hours, turning once. Transfer the reserved marinade to a medium saucepot and heat over medium, uncovered. Cook until reduced enough to coat the back of a spoon, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover pan and set aside. Dice remaining mango. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sake, rice wine vinegar and 1/2 cup mirin, stirring to combine. Stir in the diced mango. Let sit for 15 minutes, then drain, discarding liquid. Remove salmon from refrigerator and blot excess marinade. Place fish in a clean dish until ready to cook. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper to lightly coat the stalks and place on a foil-lined sheet pan large enough to fit them all in a single layer. Transfer to the oven and roast for 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly crispy. Remove and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Place a cold nonstick pan on medium heat, then immediately add the canola oil and butter. As soon as the butter has melted, add the fish. Cook, skin-side down, until skin is lightly browned and easily releases from the pan, about 5 minutes. Carefully flip fillets and cook on flesh side, 3 minutes more, until lightly browned and cooked through. If all four fillets do not fit comfortably in the pan, cook two at a time, then transfer to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm while you cook the other two. While the salmon is cooking, reheat the saucepot of reserved sauce over low. Evenly distribute the asparagus among four dinner plates. Place a salmon fillet on each plate, top with 2 to 3 T. of the sauce and garnish with the diced, quick-pickled mango. Serves 4.

Pickled Spruce Tips

Pickled Spruce Tips

Pickled Spruce Tips

for each half-pint (250ml) jar:

 

6 whole black peppercorns

1 bay leaf

1 slice of fresh lemon

1 tsp. sea salt

1 heaping cup (250ml) of spruce tips

 

for the brine (enough for 1 jar):

 

¼ cup (60ml) white wine vinegar

¼ cup (60ml) filtered or distilled water

 

Into each very clean and well-rinsed half-pint (1 cup/250ml) jar, place 6 peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, 1 slice of lemon cut in half. and 1 tsp. salt. Hold the lemon slice and bay leaf against the side of the jar if you’d like them to show on the outside.  Clean the spruce tips of their brown husks (a bit of a sticky job) and pack them into the jars up to ½ inch (1 cm) from the tops of the jars. Pack them in quite firmly. Put the the vinegar and filtered water into a small saucepan and heat just until boiling. Pour the hot brine over the spruce tips and salt until it is also ½ inch (1cm) from the top of the jar. The spruce tips will turn from bright green to olive green as the brine hits them.  Put the new snap lids for the jars into a pot of simmering water for 5 minutes to soften them. Wipe the top rims of the jars with a clean cloth. Seal the jars with the snap lids and metal screw rings until finger tight.  Lay a clean dishcloth in the bottom of a saucepan that is taller than the jars (the dishcloth keeps the jars from bouncing around in the pot once the water is boiling.) Set the jars onto the dishcloth and fill the saucepan with hot tap water up to the bottom of the metal screw rings. Cover the saucepan with a lid and bring the water to a full boil. Once it boils, turn the heat down a bit to keep the water boiling without boiling over. Start timing for 10 minutes. Process the jars for 10 minutes, then remove them carefully, using a pot holder or jar clamp, to a clean dishtowel laid out on the counter. Leave the jars undisturbed until they are cool. The metal lids should have sealed and suctioned down. If the lids are still bowed slightly upward, then the jars haven’t sealed and should be stored in the fridge and consumed within six months (leave them to age for one month before using). The spruce tips will all have floated to the top of the jars once cool. Give each jar a shake and they will disperse evenly again.  If sealed, the pickled spruce tips will last for several years in a cool, dark place. Leave the jars for a week before using them, so the brine has had time to fully flavor the spruce tips.

Quick-Pickled Stems

Quick-Pickled Stems

Quick-Pickled Stems

8 to 12 stems from braising greens, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 clove garlic

½ tsp. coriander or mustard seed

½ C. apple cider or white wine vinegar

½ C. water

1 ½ tsp. salt

 

Pack the trimmed stems into a clean pint jar. Add the garlic and coriander or mustard seed. In a small saucepan set over high heat, combine the vinegar, water, and salt. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the salt. Pour the brine over the stems. Cover the jar and let cool to room temperature. Tighten the lid and refrigerate for at least 2 days before eating. They’ll keep in the fridge for about 3 weeks.

 

Quick Pickled Fennel

Quick Pickled Fennel

Quick Pickled Fennel

Fennel for pickling should be free of blemishes and soft spots; choose bulbs that are firm, small, and bright white in color. This pickled fennel cannot be processed for long-term storage.

 

3/4 C. seasoned rice vinegar

1/4 C. water

1 (1‑inch) strip orange zest

1 garlic clove, peeled and halved

1/4 tsp. fennel seeds

1/8 tsp. black peppercorns

1/8 tsp. yellow mustard seeds

1 fennel bulb, stalks discarded, bulb halved, cored, and cut crosswise into 1/4‑inch-thick slices

 

Bring vinegar, water, garlic, turmeric, peppercorns, and mustard seeds to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring vinegar, water, zest, garlic, fennel seeds, peppercorns, and mustard seeds to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, place one 1‑pint jar under hot running water until heated through, about 1 minute; dry thoroughly. Pack fennel into hot jar. Using funnel and ladle, pour hot brine over fennel to cover. Let jar cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover jar with lid and refrigerate for at least 2 1/2 hours before serving. (Pickled fennel can be refrigerated for up to 3 weeks; fennel will soften significantly after 3 weeks.) This cannot be processed for long term storage.

Sweet and Spicy Pickled Radish

Sweet and Spicy Pickled Radish

Sweet and Spicy Pickled Radish

1 lb. radishes sliced thin

1/4 C. cilantro chopped

1 jalapeno stem removed, finely diced

1 C. distilled white vinegar or more as needed

2 T. sugar

2 T. kosher salt

1 tsp. red pepper flakes optional

1 T. mustard seed

 

Wash and dry the radishes Рslice thin and add to a large bowl along with the chopped cilantro and jalape̱o Рset aside. In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar with the sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Bring to a low boil on the stove, then turn off and allow to cool completely (you can also toss in the fridge if you are in a hurry). Grab a wide-mouth quart canning jar and pack it to the top with the radish/cilantro/jalape̱o mixture. Pack tightly. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes and mustard seed on the top of the packed radishes. Pour the cooled vinegar mixture over the top of the mixture in the jar, if needed, top off with additional vinegar and a pinch of salt. Place the lid and ring tightly on the jar and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours before placing in the refrigerator. Consume within 7-10 days. Optional: 2 chiles de arbol can be added to each jar for a little extra spice. Simply remove the stem and stuff in the jar before adding the liquid.

Naturally Pink Cauliflower Pickles

Naturally Pink Cauliflower Pickles

Naturally Pink Cauliflower Pickles

1 medium-small cauliflower (1½–2 pounds)

1 small beet

2 sprigs fresh dill or 2 dill flower heads or 1 teaspoon dried dillweed, divided

2 small cloves garlic, peeled and lightly smashed

1 teaspoon mustard seeds, divided

½ teaspoon cumin seeds, divided

½ teaspoon red chile pepper flakes, divided (optional)

1 cup white distilled or white wine vinegar

¾ cup water

1 tablespoon honey

2 teaspoons kosher or other non-iodized salt

 

Wash the cauliflower and remove any outer leaves. Cut it in half, and slice off the florets with a short length of the base attached. Aim for approximately 1-inch pieces. Peel the beet. Cut it in half and then into ½-inch-thick slices. Distribute the dill, garlic cloves, and spices between two clean pint canning jars. Pack in the cauliflower above the seasonings, adding half of the beet slices to each jar. Leave 1 inch of head space. Combine the vinegar, water, honey, and salt in a small pot. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt and honey. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface. Pour the hot brine over the other ingredients in the jars, fully covering them but still leaving ½ inch of head space. Screw on canning lids and process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes (adjust the canning time if you live at a high altitude—see the sidebar in the Boiling Water Bath Canning chapter). Wait at least one week before serving. During that time, not only will the flavors mellow and “marry,” but the beet juices will color the cauliflower.

Fermented Apple Salsa

Fermented Apple Salsa

Fermented Apple Salsa

Make this with the firmest apples you can find for a crisp fruit salsa that combines sweet, sour, and salty flavors.

 

1/2 cup (120 ml) filtered or non-chlorinated water

2 tablespoons honey

2 T. Whey (optional, but useful)

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

2 teaspoons kosher or medium grain sea salt

1/2 cup (115 g) raisins

1/4 cup (60 g) thinly sliced onion

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

3 cups (680 g) finely chopped apples

 

Whisk the water, honey, whey, apple cider vinegar, and salt until the honey and salt are completely dissolved. Lightly grind the coriander and caraway seeds with a mortar and pestle. Coarsely chop the raisins (you can skip this step if you like, but I think the texture of the salsa is better if you take the time). In a large bowl, mix together the apples, raisins, onion slices and all of the spices. Pack the combined ingredients into a clean glass quart jar. Pour the brine over the other ingredients. The brine should completely cover the solid ingredients: if it doesn’t, top off with a little filtered water. Put a lid on the jar, but loosely (you want the gases that develop during fermentation to be able to escape). Put a small plate under the jar to catch any overflow that may occur during fermentation. Leave the jar of apple salsa out at room temperature for 2 days. During that time, take the lid off at least once a day and look for signs of fermentation such as bubbles on the surface. You’ll see these especially if you press gently on the food. Your nose should also be able to detect a clean, sour smell developing. Once the apple salsa has been actively fermenting for at least 24 hours, transfer it to the refrigerator. You won’t need the plate under the jar any longer because the cold storage temperature will slow down fermentation so much that there shouldn’t be any overflow. Store the apple salsa on the top shelf of the main compartment, which has the coolest temperature within the refrigerator. This will help the apples keep their crunch longer. Wait at least a week longer before eating the salsa.

Fermented Mushrooms

Fermented Mushrooms

Fermented Mushrooms

1 or 2 8oz packages of mushrooms (I used about 1 and a half packages of sliced mushrooms)

Fresh thyme (a couple sprigs, depending on your taste)

Fresh marjoram (a couple sprigs, depending on your taste)

Smashed garlic (2 or 3 heads, depending on your tastes)

1 T. sea salt

1/4 teaspoon whey, sauerkraut juice, or culture starter

Filtered water

 

Place all of the ingredients into a quart sized mason jar.  Smash the mushrooms and other goodies down into the jar to get as many in there as you can. Add filtered water to cover, leaving an inch of head space at the top. Weigh down your mushrooms because they like to float! Set on your counter for 3 to 5 days.

Move to your refrigerator. Tamara and Kelly recommend adding them to morning eggs and to salads. I think they would be great on an antipasti platter, or taken along on a picnic.

Pickled Sweet Peppers

Pickled Sweet Peppers

Pickled Sweet Peppers

1 pound small sweet peppers, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)

3 large shallots, sliced into rings

1 1⁄2 C. white wine vinegar

1⁄2 C. water

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1⁄4 C. plus 1 T. sugar

1 T. plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt

1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

 

Divide peppers and shallot evenly between jars. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring vinegar, 1⁄2 C. water, garlic, sugar, salt, and red pepper to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; discard garlic. Divide vinegar mixture evenly between jars. Seal jars, and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate 24 hours or up to 1 month.

Pickling Dandelion Roots

Pickling Dandelion Roots

Pickling Dandelion Roots

The sunny flowerheads may be long gone, but the roots that remain are loaded with nutrients and flavor. Pickled dandelion roots are a tasty addition to soups and salads in fall. And here’s another break—this recipe also uses refrigeration to pickle instead of heat.

 

generous handful dandelion roots, washed and chopped

3 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons powdered ginger root

¼ C. tamari

3 ½ C. apple cider vinegar

 

Place clean roots, ginger root powder and tamari in a 1-quart mason jar. Pour the vinegar over all. Place a piece of wax paper over the mouth of the jar (this prevents rusting) and screw down the lid. Place in the refrigerator for 3 weeks before using.  Add to salads.

 

A different Version

 

3 C. white vinegar, one C. water, 2 T. of pickling salt, and a 1/2 C. sugar

 

Put it in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. At the same time that I am doing this, I am sterilizing my jars and lids by letting them sit in boiling water for 10-15 minutes (I start heating the pot of water long before this though, since my huge pot takes forever to boil!)

 

Once the jars are sterilized, and before I pack in the dandelion roots, I fill them with these spices: (sorry I’m not very exact with the measurements, I just eyeball everything.

 

a couple whole cloves of garlic, a pinch of celery seed, 6 to 8 peppercorns, a pinch of cayenne or red chile pepper flakes, a pinch of mustard seeds, and some dill (preferably fresh)

 

So in the spices go, then the roots (which you really got to pack in there!), then the pickling brine. Fill up the jars to about a 1/4 inch from the rim, give the rims a quick wipe down (spices stuck to the rim can cause the lid to not seal properly), and throw on the lids…

 

Now that all of the hard stuff is over, you’re ready to let your jars sit in boiling water for a final 20 minutes or so…. and YAY, YOU’R DONE! … (after you remove them, don’t forget to let them sit on your counter overnight to give the lids a chance to “pop”, or seal)

Spicy Pickled Swiss Chard Stems

Spicy Pickled Swiss Chard Stems

Spicy Pickled Swiss Chard Stems

One large bunch of rainbow chard stems, cleaned and cut to fit into mason jar, about 3/4 inch from the lip

1/2 C. rice wine vinegar

3/4 C. distilled white vinegar

1/4 C. sugar or 3 T. maple syrup

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 T. sriracha

1/4 teaspoon celery seed, divided

1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns, divided

1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds, divided

2 cloves garlic, divided

 

Add each half of the celery seed, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and garlic to each jar. (If just making one jar, this can all go together.) Pack chard stems tightly into jars. Bring vinegars, sugar (or maple syrup), salt, and sriracha to a boil, in a small saucepan until sugar and salt is dissolved. Then pour over chard stems. Let sit until cool, then put lids on and refrigerate. Wait two days before eating for flavors fully develop. Will last 1 month in refrigerator.

Fermented Cherry Tomato Bombs

Fermented Cherry Tomato Bombs

Fermented Cherry Tomato Bombs

4 C. under ripe cherry tomatoes

1 sprig fresh parsley

2 stems fresh basil

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1/4 teaspoon peppercorns

1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds

4 C. unchlorinated water

3 T. kosher, pickling, or sea salt, do not use iodized table salt

 

Put the peppercorns, coriander seeds, and mustard seeds into the bottom of a quart-sized jar, then layer in the tomatoes, parsley, basil, and garlic. Mix together the water and salt to make a brine, and pour over the tomatoes, making sure to cover them completely. Use a weight to keep the tomatoes under the brine, and cover the jar with a towel. Put in a cool and dark corner to ferment for 6-8 days. Taste them along the way. When the tomatoes are finished fermenting they will burst with a champagne like effervescence in your mouth. Cover with a lid and store in the fridge. They are best after 1 to 2 weeks. Notes: These cherry bombs will continue to gain effervescence even under refrigeration. The pressure is not in the jar, but in the tomatoes themselves! Refrigerate for up to 6 months.

Pickled Dandelion Capers

Pickled Dandelion Capers

Pickled Dandelion Capers

2 C. dandelion buds (tiny, just barely produced, no flower inside yet, pick primary bed, then under are secondaries.

2/3 C. vinegar

1/3 C. water

1 tsp. salt

Bring the water, vinegar and salt to a boil and stir to dissolve the salt.  Pack the capers into mason jars, and pour the brine over the top. Cap and store in the refrigerator or process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace.

Pickled Mustard Green Stems

Pickled Mustard Green Stems

Pickled Mustard Green Stems

 

Mustard Green Stems

Clean qt. Jar with Tight Light

 

In a small bowl add:

1 cup Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

1 generous Tbsp Pickling Spices

1 dried small red pepper, left whole (optional)

1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped

 

Stir to blend. Slice the stems of the Mustard Greens into bite-size chunks and fill jar to about 3/4 full.  Pour over the pickling vinegar blend and add just enough water to fill jar.  Add a bit of sea salt if desired.  Place the lid on tightly and shake to distribute the spices.  Refrigerate for 2-3 days, give it a good shake once a day.  These will keep for a month or more refrigerated

Balsamic Pickled Shallots or Onions

Balsamic Pickled Shallots or Onions

Balsamic Pickled Shallots

3 – 3 ½ lb. small shallots

2 ½ C. distilled vinegar

1 ½ C. balsamic vinegar

2/3 C. golden caster sugar

1 T. salt

1 tsp. pickling spice

1 tsp. of cinnamon

2T. of salt for the brine

Boiling water enough to cover the shallots

 

Tip the shallots into a large bowl and pour over a kettleful of boiling water with the salt to cover and leave overnight.  The following day, drain and peel the shallots. Set the peeled shallots aside and place all the other ingredients into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, then simmer for 3 mins. Drop the shallots into the pan and simmer for 10 mins until just tender. Remove the shallots with a slotted spoon and place in sterilized jars. Then pour the vinegar over to cover the shallots. Seal the jars and leave for at least 3 days. Ideally these shallots are best when left over time.

Pickled Cattail Shoots

Pickled Cattail Shoots

Pickled Cattail Shoots

 

Cattail shoots are found at the base of young cattails. The shoots should separate easily from the roots. Use the bottom whitish portion of the stalk. Peel off the outer layers until the solid white core is reached. Trim the core into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces. Soak well in cold water before using.

 

4 cups (1 L) pickling vinegar

2 cups (500 mL) sugar

⅓ cup (75 mL) sea salt

2 T. (30 mL) pickling spice

2 slices fresh ginger

1 stick cinnamon

4 cups (1 L) prepared cattail shoots (see recipe headnote)

 

Heat a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high. Add the pickling vinegar, sugar, sea salt, pickling spice, ginger, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and add the cattail shoots. Return to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon the cattails into a 1-quart (1 L) canning jar. Ladle hot pickling brine to within ¼ inch (0.6 cm) of the top of the jar. Tap the jar to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the jar rim, removing any residue. Place a lid on the clean jar rim. Screw the band down until resistance is met, then increase to gently tighten. Cool upright, undisturbed until cool to the touch. Label the jar and store in the refrigerator for at least 1 week before opening.

Pickled Carrots and Daikon with Lime

Pickled Carrots and Daikon with Lime

Pickled Carrots and Daikon with Lime

1/2 pound carrots, shredded

1/2 pound daikon, shredded

1 teaspoon kosher salt

6 lime leaves

1/2 cup hot water

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons white sugar

1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds

 

Toss carrots and daikon with kosher salt in a bowl; let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse carrots and daikon with cold water, drain, and transfer to a small bowl; add lime leaves. Whisk hot water, rice wine vinegar, sugar, and coriander seeds together in a separate bowl until sugar is dissolved; pour over carrots and daikon. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit until it comes to room temperature before refrigerating for at least 1 hour.

Rick Bayless Pickled Red Onions (Escabeche de Cebolla)

Rick Bayless Pickled Red Onions (Escabeche de Cebolla)

1 small (6-oz.) red onion, sliced 1/8 inch thick
1/4 tsp. black peppercorns
1/4 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 C. cider vinegar

Parboiling the onion. Place the thinly sliced red onion in a saucepan with salted water to cover, bring to a boil, time 1 minute, then remove from the heat and drain. The pickling. Coarsely grind the peppercorns and cumin in a mortar or spice grinder, then add to the saucepan, along with the remaining ingredients. Pour in just enough water to barely cover the onions, bring to a boil over medium heat, time 3 minutes, then remove from the heat and pour into a small, noncorrosive bowl. Let stand several hours before using.

Pickled Three Bean Salad

Pickled Three Bean Salad

1 ½ Lb. Fresh Green Beans — 4 1/2 C.
1 ½ Lb. Fresh Wax Beans — 4 1/2 C.
1 Lb. Canned Kidney Beans — or Shelled Lima Beans, rinsed and drained
2 C. Celery — sliced
1 Large Onion — peeled and sliced
1 C. Sweet Pepper — diced
2 ½ C. Sugar
3 C. White Vinegar
1 T. Mustard Seed
1 tsp. Celery Seed
4 tsp. Pickling Salt
1 ¼ C. Water

Rinse beans, trim ends and cut into 1 1/2″ pieces. Mix in large pot with celery, onion and pepper. Cover with boiling water and simmer 10-12 minutes (the recipe calls for 8 minutes, but that wasn’t enough). Drain. Bring sugar, vinegar, spices, and water to a boil. Simmer, covered, 15 minutes. (The amounts are just right, only a little brine left over. Don’t boil the brine away!) Add drained vegetables and kidney beans. Return to a boil. Pack hot vegetables into hot jars, leaving 1/2″ headspace. Ladle hot spiced vinegar over vegetables, leaving 1/2″ headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim of jar clean; place hot, previously simmered lid on jar and screw down ring firmly tight. Process 15 minutes in a boiling water bath canner. Do not change the ratio of vinegar, water and vegetables. This is a tested recipe for water bath canning.

Pickled Garlic Scapes

Pickled Garlic Scapes

Are you familiar with garlic scapes? They’re the curly, wonky shoots that pop up from garlic plants in late spring and early summer. They range in thickness from hefty-chive to green-onion size and they smell and taste like mild garlic. If you’re a fan of garlic (and I assume you are if you spend much time here on Foodie with Family), then you are quite likely to be a fan of garlic scapes.

Garlic scapes are versatile; they taste amazing chopped up fresh and added to salads, in pesto, sautéed with bacon, on top of pizzas, and more. PICKLED garlic scapes take that fabulousness to an even higher plane. They add a little tang of vinegar and a hint of spice to the party. I’ve been known to fish a cold, pickled garlic scape out of the jar and munch it plain. Granted, this is a pretty bad idea if you’re going to go out to a party where you’re going to be cheek-to-jowl with a lot of people, but if you’re staying home and your sweetheart eats one, too, you’re golden. This may or may not be one of the reasons I’m a homebody.

Leaving all that aside, garlic scapes are really only available at one time of year. NOW. If you want to preserve the deliciousness that is the garlic scape in all it’s glory, there’s only one way to do it. You have to pickle it. Just imagine cracking open a jar of pickled garlic scapes in January and putting it on a pizza or chopping it up and adding it to potato salad or a pasta dish. Shoot, you can even make pickled garlic scape pesto. Can you picture anything more heart-lifting than a bowl of garlic scape pesto while the snow swirls ouside your window? Or a hearty breakfast of frittata or scrambled eggs studded with pickled garlic scapes on a cool fall morning?

To Make about 2 Pints of Pickled Garlic Scapes:
2 bunches garlic scapes (washed and trimmed of any withered or brown areas)
1 ½ C. apple cider vinegar
1 ½ C. water
2 T. kosher salt
2 T. raw sugar (can substitute granulated white sugar if necessary)

Additional ingredients PER PINT:
½ tsp. black peppercorns
½ tsp. mustard seed (not ground mustard)
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (can omit if you’re sensitive to heat)
¼ tsp. coriander seeds (not ground coriander)
Coil each garlic scape and insert into a sterilized mason or ball jar. When you have filled the jar to within ¼ –inch of the top of the jar, coil or break any extra scapes and stuff them down into the center of the jar. When the jars are full of scapes, add the spices to each pint jar. Set aside.
Bring the apple cider vinegar, water, salt, and sugar to a boil, stirring until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Carefully pour the boiling brine over the garlic scapes. The garlic scapes will probably pop up and look like they are trying to get out of the jar. Use a sterile chopstick or butterknife to push it back into the jar. Wipe the rims of the jars, then fix the lid tightly into place. Let the jars come to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator for 6 weeks before opening and tasting. Be patient. It’s worth it! The pickled garlic scapes will store well for up to 8 months when stored tightly covered in the refrigerator. If at any point the scapes stick above the brine and develop mold, remove the entire scape that has mold. The rest should still be alright.

Pickled Radishes (makes about 2 pints)

Pickled Radishes (makes about 2 pints)

2 lb. radishes (about 2 bunches), tops and roots removed, scrubbed and cut into 1/8 in rounds
1/4 C. plus 1/4 tsp. pure kosher salt
1 1/2 C. 5% white vinegar
1 T. salt
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1 tsp. mustard seeds

Combine 1/4 C. salt with 2 1/2 C. water. Stir to dissolve (warm water helps). Put radish rounds into a bowl and pour salt water over. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse. In a large 6-8 quart pot, combine vinegar, sugar, 1/4 tsp. salt and spices. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve salt and sugar. Add radishes and return to a boil. Remove from heat. Pack hot canning jars loosely with radishes and brine. Leave 1/2 in headspace. Process jars in water bath for 10 minutes. Remove from water bath and leave jars undisturbed for at least 12 hours. Check if jars are sealed. Label sealed jars and store.

Juniper Pickled Onions

Juniper Pickled Onions

1 bag of small pearl white onions, preferably organic

Brine:
1 C. clean water (beware tap water with a high chlorine content)
2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 T. maple sugar, maple syrup or dark honey
3 juniper berries
1 allspice berry
1 cardamom pod, opened and the seeds scraped out
6 peppercorns
2 bay leaves
Two large pieces of lemon peel

Cut a shallow X in the root end of each onion and drop into a small saucepan. Cover the onions with water and a generous pinch of salt. Boil for 5 minutes. Strain the onions, then rinse well in cold water.  Shock the onions in ice water to stop the cooking. Using kitchen scissors, snip the root end off each onion, and the very tip if it’s sprouted or browning, Remove the outside peel to reveal a perfect white onion. Drop the onions into the sterilized jar or jars. Make a brine by heating the remaining ingredients to just below a boil. Cover the onions with the hot brine. You may have brine left over, don’t worry, but do make sure all the seeds and leaves are in the jars. Cool the onions, then refrigerate. The pickles will be ready to eat in about a week and have lasted in my refrigerator for more than six months.