{"id":32041,"date":"2018-12-14T11:59:53","date_gmt":"2018-12-14T09:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/?p=32041"},"modified":"2019-01-07T10:47:30","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T08:47:30","slug":"4-simple-ways-to-quick-pickling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/4-simple-ways-to-quick-pickling\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Simple Ways to Quick Pickling"},"content":{"rendered":"

With summer upon us and the festive season just around the corner, it\u2019s time to make sure that your\u00a0salad-making game is strong.\u00a0Fortunately, there are so many exciting seasonal ingredients to pick up from your local farmer\u2019s\u00a0market or grocery store, that it\u2019s hard not to get creative. But if you want to add some extra creative\u00a0flair to the mix, there\u2019s nothing like a delicious pickled treat or two to spruce things up.\u00a0And if you really want to impress? Sourcing those pickles from your very own, homespun pantry.<\/p>\n

Yes! DIY quick pickling is possible and far easier than you might think. Before we get into the tips\u00a0and tricks, however, let\u2019s just cover the \u2018what\u2019 and \u2018why\u2019 of pickling.<\/p>\n

WHAT IS QUICK PICKLING?<\/h1>\n

As the name suggests, quick pickling is an easy and uncomplicated process that basically involves\u00a0submerging vegetables in a solution of vinegar, water and salt and storing it in the fridge. Unlike\u00a0their slightly more complex fermented counterparts, you can enjoy quick pickles within a few days of
\nrefrigeration.<\/p>\n

WHY PICKLE?<\/h1>\n

Well, there could really be any number of reasons why you\u2019d choose to pickle your veggies \u2013 for\u00a0many people, that delicious tangy taste is reason enough already.\u00a0In more practical terms, however, it\u2019s an excellent way of preserving your favourite seasonal\u00a0produce while retaining most of their nutritional value, reduces food waste and helps you keep\u00a0meals interesting year-round.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s take a look at our four quick pickling tips and an easy recipe to try:<\/h1>\n

1. THE FRESHER THE VEG, THE BETTER THE PICKLE:<\/h2>\n

One of the most important things about creating\u00a0successful pickles, is to use only the freshest, most beautiful specimens from your veggie rack. I
\nmean, could there be anything worse than sinking your teeth into a bruised dill cucumber when you\u00a0expected a delectable crunch?\u00a0So, make sure to employ a rigorous vegetable selection process.<\/p>\n

2. BLEND YOUR BEST BRINE<\/h2>\n

The trickiest part of making your own quick pickles, will probably be getting the brine just right. It\u00a0may even take a few tries before you get it perfectly to your liking.<\/p>\n

If you want to start with a basic guideline, however, it would be wise to start with equal measures of\u00a0water and vinegar, adding a tablespoon each of pickling salt and sugar. In order to dissolve the\u00a0latter, you will have to heat the liquid on the stove \u2013 but do not bring to the boil. Before pouring the
\nliquid over your veggies of choice waiting in their pickle jars, just give it a little taste to make sure\u00a0something\u2019s not way off or overpowering.<\/p>\n

3. PLAY WITH SPICES<\/h2>\n

While you may want to keep things simple with your first attempt at pickling by only using brine,\u00a0once you\u2019ve gained some confidence you may want to start playing with adding spices to the mix.\u00a0The spices you choose to use will obviously depend greatly on the vegetable you\u2019re pickling. For\u00a0instance, cinnamon will complement carrots or pumpkin perfectly, but may not work so well with\u00a0cucumbers. Instead, you may try adding some ginger and turmeric to your dill cucumbers instead.\u00a0Once again, it\u2019s really up to what you find tasty and there\u2019s nothing wrong with experimenting until\u00a0you find something that really works. In fact, it\u2019s encouraged.<\/p>\n

4. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR BUBBLES<\/h2>\n

So, quick pickling is pretty much a fool-proof way of preserving your veggies deliciously and\u00a0nutritiously. However, they do not last forever and, since there\u2019s no expiry date to work with, you\u00a0should keep a close eye on any changes that may occur during their sojourn in the fridge.\u00a0As soon as you see bubbles appearing when you open the jar, you\u2019ve delayed a little long and it\u2019s\u00a0time to send them to the compost heap or bokashi bin.<\/p>\n

QUICK & EASY PICKLED BEETS:<\/h1>\n

We all love beetroot, right? Well, here\u2019s a quick and easy recipe from Pinch and Swirl<\/a> to ensure you\u00a0never run out!<\/p>\n

INGREDIENTS<\/em>:<\/h2>\n