​Pickles for Christmas - and not just onions!

As part of our Christmas preparation series, we're looking at all the wonderful homemade gifts you can make for your loved ones this season. Nothing beats a delicious, thoughtful homemade gift and many of them are extremely easy to make.

Take pickles, for example. These highly-coloured, flavoursome and nutritious accompaniments are absolutely ideal for the festive period, especially when paired with all of those indulgent cheeses, tasty crackers and other buffet items.

What are pickles?

Pickles are a vegetable or fruit that has been literally pickled in a preserving agent such as vinegar and flavoured with spices, herbs and other condiments. This process of pickling also encourages fermentation which is incredibly healthy and encourages the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Fermented foods are believed to help boost our immunity, keep our digestive systems healthy and keep us feeling well and nourished. Even better, pickled foods are naturally preserved without chemicals and additives, so they can last for weeks or even months if stored unopened in a dark and cold place.

How to make pickles

There are so many recipes available for different pickle recipes; from those in the original recipe books that your Grandma left you, to fresh takes on old favourites that you can find online. Pickle recipes also tend to be quick and easy to make too, and you can make use of any vegetable gluts (or bargains!) that you get hold of, with each one creating wonderfully rich jewel-like colours that you can display to great effect in glass jars or Kilner jars.

You can use a combination of vegetables too depending on what needs using up in your fridge. For example, Jamie Oliver recommends this quick, colourful and simple recipe. Simply take 400g of crunchy vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, red onion and radishes, and slice them according to taste. You might want to slice some delicately, dice others and leave some chopped more thickly for crunch and interest. Put your veg into a series of sterilised glass jars or Kilner jars, with 125 of water, plus 250 ml vinegar, a tablespoon each of sea salt and caster sugar and any spices or herbs you might like to add - such as mustard seeds or fresh dill. Close each lid of your glass jars and shake the contents well. You can use this pickle immediately to enjoy the crunchy and sharp taste, or allow it to sit in the fridge for up to 8 weeks to allow the flavours to mingle and the texture to soften. This pickle will work perfectly with a cheese board, in salads or sandwiches or as a side condiment to stir-fries and curries.

See the full recipe online: https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pickle-recipes/easy-homemade-pickle/

Easy homemade pickle | Jamie Oliver recipes Cut or slice up the veg into fine or chunky pieces, depending on what you’re looking for. I quite like purposely cutting each veg differently – some diced, some into erratic chunks, some sliced delicately and some more thickly. Place all the veg in a sterilised airtight jar, add 125ml of water ... www.jamieoliver.com

Pickle ideas to try

Use your imagination and kitchen to give you ideas for interesting combinations. Sauerkraut is a traditional fermented pickle that uses cabbage and salt to create a natural brine. It's delicious and easy to make - with a little effort on the kneading front. Similarly, kimchi is made in Eastern Asia and also involves massaging cut cabbage with salt to release brine and adding other vegetables such as daikon radishes, chilli and hot spices.

Why not try red onions, pears, walnuts, courgettes and aubergines. Pickled cherries and stone fruits are also delicious and really good served with cold cuts for the Boxing Day buffet. If you are going to gift some pickles, why not try a trio of colours, such as green courgette and green beans, red beetroot and orange pumpkin? Experiment with different levels of garlic, ginger, chilli and seasoning and you can create something really mouth-watering. Maybe you will eventually even create your own little kitchen table business!

Presenting your pickles

A wicker basket would make a fantastic choice for presenting your beautiful homemade pickles, and we have a large range of these available at Wares of Knutsford. Choose from large wicker baskets, wicker boxes, wicker trays and other styles and shapes. The beauty of wicker is that it is natural, lasts the test of time and is environmentally friendly. It also looks so appealing that it can be used in your home for all kinds of purposes - perhaps as a shopping basket, a picnic basket or a storage holder for showing off pretty soaps or toiletries? So when you gift your pickles in wicker, you'll also be gifting an enduring wicker holder that your lucky loved one can use for years to come.

Stock up on what you need

You'll find a wide range of screw-top glass jars and air-tight Kilner jars online at Wares of Knutsford, with all sizes and styles on offer. We are proud to sell a huge range of kitchen and home products of the highest quality, at the best prices and with the finest customer service. Keep checking back to see the latest product additions and sign up to our newsletter or follow our social media pages to see everything that is new at Wares of Knutsford!