Spiced Pickled Shallots Food

SPICED PICKLED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• The day before pickling, put the shallots in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to cool, then drain and peel away the skins and trim the root ends.
• In a large bowl, mix the coarse crystal sea salt with 300ml boiling water and let it dissolve to make a brining solution. Add 1.2 litres cold water, then the shallots. Cover and leave to soak overnight. The next day, drain, rinse then drain again. Pack the shallots into sterilised jars (see tip below).
• To make the pickling vinegar, put the whole spices in a medium saucepan. Toast over a low heat until they begin to smell aromatic. Add the dried chilli flakes last, as these can easily catch.
• Add the bay, pour in all of the vinegar and sugar, let it dissolve, and bring to a simmer.
• Pour the hot vinegar over the shallots and seal while hot. Ready to eat in 1 month, or longer, if you like.

QUICK PICKLED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan heat the water and vinegar.
• Add the sea salt and sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Carefully slice the shallots as thinly as you can.
• Pack the shallots in the glass jar (or jars).
• Carefully pour the pickle solution over until the shallots are covered.
• Add the lid, cool and refrigerate.
• The pickles will be ready to eat in around an hour.

PICKLED SHALLOTS AND RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Combine the white vinegar, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan with 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the onions and shallots to a pint jar and pour the liquid over the top. Let cool completely. Refrigerate up to 1 week.

BALSAMIC PICKLED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Tip the shallots into a large bowl, pour over a kettleful of boiling water, leave to stand for a minute, then drain. When cool enough to handle, sit down, turn the radio on and get peeling.
• Set the peeled shallots aside and place all the other ingredients except the balsamic vinegar 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 8-10 mins until just tender. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the shallots and basil out into sterilised jars (see Know-how, below), then boil the liquid vigorously for 5 mins. Turn the heat off, stir in the balsamic vinegar, then pour over the shallots to cover. Seal the jars and leave for at least 3 days. Will keep for up to 3 months.

PICKLED SHALLOTS AND GARLIC IN BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Separate the garlic into individual cloves. Peel each garlic clove, leaving it whole.
• Mix the salt and the cold water together in a large bowl until the salt has dissolved, making a brine solution.
• Place the onions and garlic in the brine and leave for 12 hours. Rinse and pat dry.
• Place the onions and garlic, mixed together, in sterilised bottles or jars.
• In a non-reactive pan, heat together the balsamic vinegar, sugar, bay leaf and spices and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain and cool.
• Pour the spiced vinegar over the onions and garlic covering them completely. Cover the bottles or jars and leave for 3 months before using.