Want to add a personal touch and transform your shop-bought pickles into something extraordinary? Look no further! This blog post will guide you through the novel world of upcycling pickled gherkins and explore different flavour options that will take your gherkin game to a whole new level.
Why Upcycle Your Pickled Gherkins?
Customize the flavour profile
By upcycling your pickled gherkins, you can experiment with various ingredients to create unique and delicious flavours tailored to your taste buds.
Reduce food waste
It allows you to make the most out of your existing jar of pickles, reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.
Creative gift option
Impress your friends and family with an easy, quick homemade, personalized jar of pickles, perfect for any occasion!
It is also a quick way to prepare some pickles to enjoy with a meal.
Top Tips for Upcycling Pickled Gherkins
Before we dive into the world of flavour options, here are some tips:
Plan for when you want to use these gherkins
Make sure you have a larger glass jar or multiple jars on hand for the resulting gherkin upgrade, especially if you plan to add additional ingredients to your pickles.
Ideally, decide when you want to use them so that you can allow some time for the pickle flavours to develop.
Also, decide what you want to use the upcycled pickles for – what menu they will be part of, or whether you want to give it as a food gift.
These decisions may guide you to ways in which you could personalise this upcycling adventure.
Be patient with pickles
The longer your pickles sit in their new flavour infusion, the better they will taste. Give your pickles at least 24 hours, ideally more, to absorb the new flavours before enjoying them.
Experiment
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your ingredients! The possibilities are endless when it comes to upcycling your pickled gherkins.
Flavour Options for Upcycling Pickled Gherkins
Here are just a few ideas for ways in which you can elevate a plain jar of pickled gherkins into something personalised to your taste and needs. I encourage you to try your own unique flavour combinations for an exciting result.
Spicy kick
Add sliced jalapeños/another green chilli, +/- red pepper flakes, garlic cloves and sliced ginger for a fiery twist on classic pickled gherkins.
Sweet and tangy pickled gherkins
Combine your gherkins with sliced red onions, apple cider vinegar, and honey for a delightfully sweet and tangy flavour.
Mediterranean flair
Mix in olives, and fresh oregano or rosemary for a taste of the Mediterranean.
Fruity fusion
Incorporate sliced apples, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks to create a unique sweet and savoury combination.
Or in another direction, slices of lemon, or some fresh gooseberries for a decidedly tangy mix.
Asian-inspired pickled gherkins
Blend in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and ginger for an exotic, umami-packed flavour.
Ways to Use Leftover Pickling Liquid
You can use up the pickling liquid that you drained from the jar, as well as any excess pickling liquid that may be left over from your customized version.
Don’t let that flavorful pickling liquid go to waste!
Here are a few creative ways to make the most of it:
- Marinade: Use the leftover pickling liquid as a marinade for meats, tofu, or vegetables to add a tangy, flavorful twist to your dishes.
- Salad dressing: Mix the pickling liquid with some olive oil, mustard, and honey to create a delicious homemade salad dressing.
- Bread dip: Combine the pickling liquid with olive oil, crushed garlic, and your favourite herbs to make a tasty dip for crusty bread.
- Deglaze a pan: After cooking meat or vegetables, use the pickling liquid to deglaze the pan and create a flavorful sauce.
Ways to Use and Enjoy Your Transformed Pickles
Your newly upgraded pickled gherkins-plus can be enjoyed in various ways:
- Serve them as a tasty appetizer or snack.
- Make them part of a cheese or charcuterie board.
- Add them to sandwiches, burgers, or salads for a burst of flavour.
- Use them as a unique and delicious topping for tacos or grilled meats.
- Gift them to friends and family as a thoughtful, homemade present.
Upcycling your shop-bought pickled gherkins is a fun and rewarding way to elevate your culinary skills. With endless flavour options and creative ways to enjoy them, you’ll never look at that shop-bought pickles the same way again.
Upcycling Pickled Gherkins
Equipment
- Measuring spoons
- Colander
- Medium bowl
- Preserving pan/Large saucepan
- Long-handled spoon for stirring
- Ladle
- Jam Funnel
- Clean, sterilised glass jars with sealable lids
Ingredients
- 1×500 g jar of shop-bought pickled gherkins
- 60 ml white wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp yellow mustard seeds
- ¼ tsp whole cloves
- ¼ tsp red chilli flakes
- 3 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 medium sweet red pepper
Instructions
- In the pan, start to prepare the pickling liquid. Add the vinegar, peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, chilli flakes, salt, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce to the pan, and stir.
- Gently heat the mixture over medium heat. Stir to encourage the salt and sugar to dissolve.
- Bring the mixture up to a boil for 3-5 minutes.
- Then remove from the heat and set aside for the flavours to mix.
- Wash the sweet pepper. Drain off excess water.Deseed and slice the sweet pepper.
- Drain the pickling liquid from the jar of gherkins into a bowl and set aside.
- Remove the gherkins from the jar.
- Blanch the slices of pepper briefly in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. This will help them maintain their crunchiness in the pickle.
- Use a slotted spoon to scoop out some of the spices from the pickling mixture and divide them roughly between the warm sterilised jars.
- Return the pickling mixture to medium heat and bring to a simmer.
- Add the peppers and gherkins to the jars.
- Pour the hot pickling liquid carefully over the vegetables. Make sure that it covers the vegetables completely. Covering and keeping the vegetables covered is essential to limit the risk of them going bad.
- If you do not have enough liquid, make up a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, warm it in the microwave and top up the jars. If you have pickling liquid left over, use it to make up your favourite salad dressing, or in a marinade – see below.
- Seal the jar(s) tightly and let them cool to room temperature before transferring them to the refrigerator.
- Use within 3-4 weeks.Always check for any signs of spoilage before enjoying them.
Notes
Flavour Options for Upcycling Gherkins
Here are just a few ideas for ways in which you can elevate a plain jar of pickled gherkins into something personalised to your taste and needs. I encourage you to try your own unique flavour combinations for an exciting result.Spicy kick
Add sliced jalapeños/another green chilli, +/- red pepper flakes, garlic cloves and sliced ginger for a fiery twist on classic pickled gherkins.Sweet and tangy
Combine your gherkins with sliced red onions, apple cider vinegar, and honey for a delightfully sweet and tangy flavour.Mediterranean flair
Mix in olives, and fresh oregano or rosemary for a taste of the Mediterranean.Fruity fusion
Incorporate sliced apples, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks to create a unique sweet and savoury combination. Or in another direction, slices of lemon, or some fresh gooseberries for a decidedly tangy mix.Asian-inspired
Blend in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and ginger for an exotic, umami-packed flavour.Ways to Use Leftover Pickling Liquid
You can use up the pickling liquid that you drained from the jar, as well as any excess pickling liquid that may be left over from your customized version. Don’t let that tasty pickling liquid go to waste! Here are a few creative ways to make the most of it:- Marinade: Use the leftover pickling liquid as a marinade for meats, tofu, or vegetables to add a tangy, flavorful twist to your dishes.
- Salad dressing: Mix the pickling liquid with some olive oil, mustard, and honey to create a delicious homemade salad dressing.
- Bread dip: Combine the pickling liquid with olive oil, crushed garlic, and your favourite herbs to make a tasty dip for crusty bread.
- Deglaze a pan: After cooking meat or vegetables, use the pickling liquid to deglaze the pan and create a flavourful sauce.
Ways to Use and Enjoy Your Transformed Pickles
Your newly upgraded pickled gherkins-plus can be enjoyed in various ways:- Serve them as a tasty appetizer or snack.
- Make them part of a cheese or charcuterie board.
- Add them to sandwiches, burgers, or salads for a burst of flavour.
- Use them as a unique and delicious topping for tacos or grilled meats.
- Gift them to friends and family as a thoughtful, homemade present.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
All nutritional information is an estimate only, based on third-party calculations derived from an online nutritional calculator, Spoonacular API. The data provided is a courtesy and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients and brands you use, your measuring methods and portion sizes. For accurate results, we recommend that you calculate the nutritional information yourself, using a preferred nutritional calculator or advice from a nutritionist, based on your ingredients and individual processes.