Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Pickled Spring Onions

I'm seeing pickled ramps everywhere this year but didn't have a chance to try my hand at them before the short ramp season was over. What I do have is lots of spring onions plus there are piles of them at the farmers market for $1.00 a bunch so I decided to try pickling them.
Pickled Spring Onions
I used Tom Colicchio's spice & brine recipe for pickled ramps just substituting with the onions. The recipe said you could store the pickles in the fridge to use right away or use proper canning techniques & store them for months. I decided to try canning them since we wouldn't need 4 jars of these right away. I referenced some of my preserving books for the proper timing to process pickled onions. I didn't have the red & white peppercorns the recipe called for so I substituted pink & black, I think you can use whatever you have.

Pickled Spring Onions
(adapted from Tom Colicchio Think Like a Chef)

2 pounds spring onions
salt for blanching
1 c white wine vinegar
1 c sugar
1 c water
1 T salt
1 t mustard seed
1 t coriander seed
1 t fennel seed
1 t pink peppercorn
1 t black peppercorn
1 bay leaf, cut into 4 pieces

While you are preparing the brine & onions sterilize four 1/2-pint jars & lids in boiling water.

Clean & trim the spring onions. Cut down the green until the onions are about 3/4 to 1 inch shorter than the jars. (You'll end up with mostly the whites & just a little of the greens.) Bring a pot of water to a boil. Salt & add the onions. Boil for 1 minute & them quickly move the onions to an ice water bath. Drain.

Divide the onions between the four sterilized jars. Add 1/4 teaspoon each of the mustard seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, pink & black peppercorns to each jar. Add a piece of bay leaf to each jar.

Put the vinegar, sugar, water and salt into a saucepan & bring to a boil. Pour the hot liquid into each jar leaving about 1/2-inch headroom. Top with the sterilized jar lids. Put neckbands on & hand tighten. Place the jars into a pot of boiling water about 1-inch above the top of the jars. Cover & boil for 10 minutes. Carefully remove to a heatproof surface, do not top the seals or dry. Let sit for 12 to 24 hours to cool. Store in a cool, dark area.

Skip the whole canning step & just place onions, spices & brine in clean jars & keep in the fridge to use within a few weeks.

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8 comments:

  1. I wish I would get into canning. No time right now but hopefully in the future!!

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  2. This is a good idea. I like this!

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  3. I have pickled the radishes from our CSA delivery, which has worked out nicely. Woohoo, pickling!

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  4. I love to do the pickling thing, but don't like the sterlizing process......these onions would be great on a roast pork sandwich!

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  5. Hubby would really love me if i made some pickled onions - he loves them.

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  6. looks great. Last year I made kimchi spring onions and pickled spring onions. These are a nice variation.

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  7. i've eaten a lot of pickled products (even eggs...shudder!), but i've never tried onions. i can't wait to see how you use them.

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  8. They sound wonderful! You can't have a proper British ploughman's lunch without pickled onions, I have to give these a go!

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