Pickling Vinegar??

piglet · Post by **piglet** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:44 pm

Hi all

Strange request I know...but have you ever paced up and down the supermarket shelves on a mission only to come home empty handed??

Has anyone any idea what I ask for please????

Cheers

tricky · Post by **tricky** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:54 pm

Hi Piglet
Not heard from you for a while, hope you are well.
I think its 'white' malt vinager that you want, wether its called the same in portugal I don't know. We visited your area when we were last in Pt,
what a nice place and so unspoiled.

Tricky

blue · Post by **blue** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:16 am

I think I have seen white vinegar in the butcher in Carvoeiro, not sure though.
I would imagine that you ask for vinagre branco.
What are you pickling

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:02 am

Malt vinegar has a very strong flavour - you way want to try something lighter such as white wine vinegar or cider vinegar. Just add peppercorns/chillies etc according to the flavour you want.

pm · Post by pm » Tue May 09, 2006 9:20 am

Isn't pickling vinegar extra strong to cope with water in whatever you are pickling dluting it? Or have I been seduced by advertising again?

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:08 am

Hi Piglet, hope you and your hubby are well, sounds very proactive this pickling lark!!

I found this receipt. doesn't say it has to be malt or white tho'

Spiced Pickling Vinegar
Makes: 1.2lt (2 pints)

1.2lt (2 pints) Vinegar
7g (¼ oz) Cinnamon
7g (¼ oz) Mace
7g (¼ oz) Cloves
7g (¼ oz) Allspice
6 - 8 Peppercorns
15 - 25g (½ - 1oz) Bruised Root Ginger

Either add the spice directly to the vinegar or place them into a muslin bag before doing so.
Allow to steep for 6 - 8 weeks shaking occasionally.
Strain before use.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:13 am

also found this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A655535

Have fun!

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Tue May 09, 2006 11:18 am

One of our teachers is the world's leading authority on pickling. In fact she spends most of her time pickled

What she said was that the type of vinegar you use will dictate the end flavour. What she suggested was do maybe three batches using the above recipe. One with malt, one white and one cider. The white vinegar will give a more "refined" flavour. That means pretty tasteless in my book.

blue · Post by **blue** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:45 pm

It depends on what you're pickling, for more delicate produce white vinegar is ideal as it should not overpower the taste of whatever it is you're pickling, for things like onions then you would use a malt pickling vinegar - about as subtle as a sledge hammer but very tasty.

piglet · Post by **piglet** » Fri May 12, 2006 9:16 pm

Wow...thanks guys for your replies....

I want to pickle onions!!...which hopefully I will ahve grown from sets.....well they are in the ground at the mo in my veg patch in Portugal
Various friends have had attempts at pickling without much success. One lots of onions went blue...while the others were soft.

We decided it was somthing to do with the vinegar...a jar of pickling spices was dumped uncerimounisously in my kitchen (in Portugal) as a challenge!! Yess in the UK you would go into sainsburies and buy some pickling vinegar...but not here.
Are there any Portuguese ladies may be able to help with this one.. or is this a purely British past time.?

Thanks for all your replies...piccalilie is next on the agenda!!

Tricky..yes it is really lovely up here...at teh moment so unspoilt! email me next time you are in town!!

Boa noite

pm · Post by pm » Fri May 12, 2006 10:54 pm

http://tinyurl.com/nbdkn

Advice on pickling, including the use of pickling vinegar. This doesn't mean the spices, it is somewhat stronger. Salting the stuff works well too. We used to make tons of pickles and chutney and I think we always salted the onions.

blue · Post by **blue** » Sun May 14, 2006 9:17 am

My brother in-law pickled some onions once, they were soooo strong they almost blew yer head off

.

piglet · Post by **piglet** » Sun May 14, 2006 10:02 pm

Hi Pm...thanks for link...interesting site
Cheers

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sun May 14, 2006 11:26 pm

blue wrote:My brother in-law pickled some onions once, they were soooo strong they almost blew yer head off .

Its been a long time since I pickled anything (finks back into the distant mists of time....

)
But I do remember leaving the onions in salted water overnight?
I prefer chutneys or sweet pickle nowadays....but I do love little pickled gherkins with my fish & chips..lush

P.S. Pickled onions take my breath away..but then a lotta things do these days.....

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:34 am

Must confess I hate anything pickled (except me!!) can't stand vinegar!