Friday 9 June 2017

Pickled Walnuts 2017.



It's Election Day, and I'm trying to take my mind off what might befall us.

My supplies are low, and I had intended to make a good quantity of Pickled Walnuts this year, but our trees were frosted and as a result we have very little fruit. Anyway, yesterday I managed to pick the few above, and they'll have to do. We won't be having any actual Walnuts come Autumn; the trees are empty!

The Walnuts are topped and tailed and any blemishes removed. They are then pierced several times with a stainless knife; making sure at the same time that any interior woodiness hasn't started to form. It hadn't.


The Walnuts are then soaked in brine for about 12 days; changing the brine a couple of times.

When the brining stage is over, the drained Walnuts are put out in the sun to turn black; this usually takes a minimum of 2 days.

They are then packed into sterilised jars and covered with a sweetened spiced vinegar.

I leave them until Christmas before tasting, but they last for years. The ones I am eating at the moment were made in 2012. 

The perfect accompaniment to a good strong Cheddar.




28 comments:

  1. I've never made pickled walnuts (indeed, never heard of them until we moved to England) but most years I make walnut liqueur using the green nuts. This year I'll have to scrounge from a friend because my trees were frosted.

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    1. Oh dear, were your trees frosted too? I've never known it happen before.

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  2. Who knew walnuts looked like that - I didn't...?

    Alphie

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    1. These are still quite small, before the interior wood had formed. They get to about twice the size before they drop, and the nuts pop out.

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  3. I adore pickled walnuts Cro and have always wondered how they were made. The trouble up here is finding a good really strong Cheddar - can't be beaten when you can find it.

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    1. The one's I'm eating at the moment are delicious. Very soft, quite sweet, and wonderful with good cheese.

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  4. T. May should eat a bowl of pickled walnuts! May be she will feel better after.

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    Replies
    1. Only if the cheddar is strong AND stable.......

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    2. And if she's feeling strong and stable herself; which I doubt at the moment.

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  5. That's what she proclaimed 'strong and stable", which seems not to be the case.

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  6. Heron refrains from crowing Cro just simply squawks gleefully. Walnuts being his daily additive to his breakfast.

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    Replies
    1. I'm simply squawking with reluctant acceptance.Not a good result; for anyone.

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  7. I look forward to Strictly Come Dancing later in the year when Len will not be around any pickled walnuts. Who will be in charge then? And that goes for the UK as well.

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    1. My wife might understand this more than me. Is this 'Len' known for eating pickled Walnuts?

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  8. They are also very good added to stews or casseroles, particularly with beef or game.

    The nice thing about elections is that whatever the result a few people get their well deserved comeuppance. Certainly true in Scotland. In England I think the moral is if you ignore your supporters you lose (conservative strategy) if you reward your supporters you gain (labour strategy). The fact that this simple approach to life passes old strong and stable by is a mystery, but then a house brick is strong and stable and has as much personality...

    I am sure that if Labour actually get in they would not be able to fulfill their promises but by then it will be too late.

    Moral of the story, if you ever are running a country, is to seek a secure base first, then do the risky stuff. I think we will be back at the polls in 6 months....

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    1. 6 months? I hope not. Corbyn took his soap box around the country whilst May stayed at home baking cakes (probably). It's not surprising that she lost support; she should have copied Corbyn and offered free sweets.

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    2. Theresa May will not get 6 months.

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  9. Pickled walnuts are a great distraction from the extraordinary election results.

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  10. I've never knowingly eaten a pickled walnut in my life! The walnut tree at the bottom of our hill got badly hit by the frost, no fruit at all on it this year.

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    1. PW's are not to everyone's taste; Lady M would never eat one (which is a good thing as I have so few). The tree I gathered these from was protected by a huge Oak, all our other trees were hit.

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  11. Pickled walnuts...interesting. Also I would never have guess that green thing was a walnut. I got turned off pickled stuff when my dad forced some weird Japanese pickled fish on us as kids. Walnuts though...I'd try.

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    1. They are quite strong, but delicious. An acquired taste.

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  12. I love pickled walnuts but it's only since I've been shopping in Waitrose when on the mainland that I've found them again. The stronger the cheese the better it goes with them.

    Election? Which election? Have I missed something?

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  13. I never knew that you had to put them in the sun and that is why they are that colour. I thought some how the hardened nut was put in brine and went soft. If we dont have cornichons I would serve pickled walnuts with pate, to guests. no one ever complained

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