TopVeg – growing veg,fruit&herbs

November 12, 2009

How to Pickle Onions

Filed under: root veg — Tags: , , , — TopVeg @ 1:37 pm

The main thing you need to pickle onions is plenty of time, otherwise it is quite straightforward!

pickled-onions-pink

pickled-onions-pink

  • most people use shallots for pickled onions
  • make a brine solution by dissolving 8oz of salt in 4 pints of water
  • skin the onions – using a stainless steel or silver knife – as they will discolour
  • cover the onions in a cold brine solution for at least 24 hours.  Place a dish over the top of the onions to make sure they are covered with brine.  The brine draws the water out of the onions & makes them crispy.
  • drain the onions from the brine
  • fill a clean, sterilised jar with onions & cover with spiced pickling vinegar
pickled-onion-jars

pickled-onion-jars

The spiced pickling vinegar can be of any flavour & it is worth trying a few different ones.

It is possible to buy spiced pickling vinegar, or you can make your own using a different vinegar (cider, wine, raspberry vinegar etc) & add your own combination of spices.  Pre-mixed pickling spices can be found in supermarkets, or you can add your own combination of chillies, ginger, pepper, mustard seeds etc..

Topper-pickled-onions

Topper-pickled-onions

It is very easy to pickle onions, just time consuming!  But a jar of home-made pickled onions is a treat – or an excellent gift or  Christmas present.

September 27, 2009

pickled runner beans

Filed under: pea&beans — Tags: , , — TopVeg @ 7:28 pm

This recipe for pickled runner beans is good for using up the surplus runner beans.

Ingredients:

* 1.5lb runner beans
* 1pint malt vinegar
* 1.5lb granulated sugar
* 1 level teaspoon ground allspice
* pepper

runner-bean-branch

runner-bean-branch

Method
1. String & slice beans
2. Cook in lightly salted boiling water for about 8 mins. & drain.
3. Mix vinegar,sugar, allspice & pepper in pan, & stir over low heat till sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil, simmer for 5 mins.
4. Add drained beans to vinegar mixture & simmer for another 5 mins.
5. Take beans out of vinegar & pack tightly into clean jars. Top up the jars with the vinegar mixture so the beans are completely covered.
6. Cover with vinegar proof lids & label.

7.Store in cool, dark place for a fortnight before eating.

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