Sunday, 7 February 2010

Post 165: Pickled Betroot Update

Several months back, I had my second attempt at pickling some beetroot. The first was a complete disaster: based on my not having realised it needed cooking first. Second time around. I cooked, peeled and then chopped the beetroot and left it in the pickling vinegar. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

However.... yesterday I met my mate Bri to go walking and it was my turn on packup duties. I was thinking I was on a winner with the day's butty selection: home made seeded bread, cheese and pickled beetroot. Simple, easy, nice. What could go wrong? When we got to our lunch break. I unwrapped the first round of buttys, Bri was downwind and exclaimed "Bloody hell luv, that's stripped the hairs from up mi nose!". To say the beetroot was a little tart would be an understatement. This isn't even the stuff that's got the chillies in!

Anyone got any ideas on how to make it mellower?

6 comments:

  1. Oh no, that's a shame. I'm not sure they can be saved but if you make the next batch with white wine vinegar instead of pickling or malt that would definitely help to make a mellower pickle. The butty sounds delicious otherwise, with the combo of homemade bread, cheese and beetroot.

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  2. Do you think it's too late for the chilli stuff? that's only been a-pickling for just over a week, and as per the first lot it just went straight into pickling vinegar.

    At least Bri's dog didn't mind the beetroot.

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  3. I've tried to cut and paste but it doesn;t like it very much; Delia has a really nice recipe (search for Pickled Beetroot and Shallots), she uses red wine vinegar - and spices.

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  4. What a shame - I was wandering how it would turn out. I've had some really nice pickled beetroots in the past but stupidly didn't get the recipe when I had the chance. I really don't like too much vinegariness in my pickles.

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  5. Well I am no expert (far from it in fact), but I think if you tried transferring the chilli beetroot to wine vinegar it may work. If I were doing that though I would probably follow a recipe such as Greedy Rosie's suggestion of Delia's, just using your already pickled beet and chilli. Oh Lord, now I have said it I hope it works!! How's Bri's dog now - still standing?

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  6. Rosie: thanks for the tip to find Delia. I'm going to have a look for that at the weekend - when operation rescue-chilli-pickled-beetroot will commence.

    As you might all guess, I'd just thought pickle stuffs go into pickling vinegar.

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