Pickled Pumpkin Food

ELIN'S PICKLED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Place the pumpkin in a large, deep bowl.
• In a large saucepan, mix the sugar, vinegar, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Boil 5 minutes. Pour the hot liquid over the pumpkin in the bowl. Cover and set aside 8 hours, or overnight.
• Strain the liquid into a large saucepan. Boil 5 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves, leaving a few bits for decoration. Place the pumpkin back into the liquid and return to boiling. Boil 5 minutes, or until pumpkin is transparent but crisp. Allow the mixture to cool. Transfer to sterile jars and refrigerate.

SPICED PICKLED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Place pumpkin in a kettle.
• In another pot, add vinegar to sugar and heat to the boiling point.
• Tie the spices in cheesecloth and add to vinegar/sugar mixture.
• Boil 5 minutes; pour over pumpkin cubes.
• Cook the pumpkin in the syrup until just tender.
• Place in sterilized jars and seal at once.

PICKLED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Place the vinegar, water and sugar in a large saucepan. Cook, stirring, over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.
• Add the cinnamon, peppercorns, salt, allspice berries and chili and bring to the boil.
• Add the pumpkin flesh and bring to the boil once more.
• Reduce the heat and simmer the pumpkin gently until cooked through, around 30 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon place the pumpkin in warm, sterile jars, dividing the spices evenly.
• Bring the remaining cooking liquor to the boil and cook briskly until reduced and thickened into a syrup.
• Pour the syrup over the pumpkin, allow to cool and seal.

PICKLED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• Thoroughly wash a 2-quart preserving jar with a fresh rubber gasket seal, and boil the jar for 10 minutes (without the gasket) to sterilize it. Place the cubed pumpkin in the jar and fit the gasket in place.
• In a large saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, ginger, salt, cloves, and peppercorns. Over low heat, stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved, then increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then pour the hot liquid over the pumpkin in the jar. Immediately seal the jar and let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 1 week before using. Once unsealed, the pickled pumpkin will keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

PICKLED PUMPKIN

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Add pumpkin, vinegar and cloves. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until pumpkin is tender. Discard cloves. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

PUMPKIN PICKLE

Steps:

• Put the prepared pumpkin in a bowl and sprinkle over 2 tbsp sea salt. Toss well, cover and leave at room temperature for 24 hrs.
• Sterilise your jars before you start (see tip, below). Drain and rinse the pumpkin, then tip into a large pan. Add the onion, apple pieces, mustard, coriander and nigella seeds, the sugar, vinegar and bay leaves. Pour 200ml water over everything, then put on a medium heat and bring to a simmer. Put a lid on the pan, leaving a gap for steam to escape, turn the heat up to medium-high and cook for 8 mins.
• Use a cup to scoop out some liquid from the pan and mix 50ml with the turmeric and flour in a small bowl to make a smooth paste. Add a little more of the liquid, mixing well to remove any lumps, until the paste becomes runny, then pour into the pan, and add the ginger and chilli. Simmer for another 5 mins, uncovered, stirring until thickened and the squash has softened but still retains some bite.
• Carefully fill your sterilised jars with the pickle while it's still hot, pressing the chunks of squash down into the liquid to expel air pockets, then pop on the lid. Will keep in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Once opened, store in the fridge and eat within a month. Best served after being left to mature for a month or more, but can be eaten straightaway.