How to pickle gooseberries

Pickled gooseberries

How to pickle gooseberries

by Great British Chefs6 July 2015

How to pickle gooseberries

Gooseberries have a short season in the UK from June until August but you can enjoy them for longer by pickling them in vinegar and sugar. Green gooseberries are most suited to pickling due to their firm, tart flesh so keep the red ones for jams and desserts.

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

  • 200g of gooseberries
  • 150ml of white wine vinegar
  • 25g of caster sugar
1
Wash the gooseberries and top and tail them before placing in sterilised jars
2
Bring the vinegar and sugar to the boil then leave to cool slightly
3
Pour the pickling liquid over the gooseberries and seal the jars while still warm
4
Leave to pickle for at least one week but ideally for one month

Variations

You can add many different spices to add flavour to pickled gooseberries; ginger, cinnamon, cloves, mustard seeds and peppercorns all work really well. You could also add lemon zest for extra sharpness or chilli if you like a little heat.

Serving sugestions

The most traditional serving of pickled gooseberries is with mackerel but pickled gooseberries would also be a fantastic accompaniment to a cheeseboard, the acidity cutting through rich cheeses such as a strong cheddar or soft, lemony goat’s cheese. Gooseberries also pair well with rich meats such as pork and game birds.

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