An Excellent Pickle is a traditional British recipe, based on Mrs Beeton's recipe of 1861, for a classic method of making an instant pickle by layering fruit and vegetables in a jar, seasoning with spices, adding soy sauce and sherry and covering with vinegar. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: An Excellent Pickle.
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This is a traditional British recipe redacted from the redoubtable Mrs Beeton's 1861 volume Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, the classic Victorian cookbook.
Original Recipe
AN EXCELLENT PICKLE.
497. INGREDIENTS.—Equal quantities of medium-sized onions, cucumbers, and sauce-apples; 1-1/2 teaspoonful of salt, 3/4 teaspoonful of cayenne, 1 wineglassful of soy, 1 wineglassful of sherry; vinegar.
Mode.—Slice sufficient cucumbers, onions, and apples to fill a pint stone jar, taking care to cut the slices very thin; arrange them in alternate layers, shaking in as you proceed salt and cayenne in the above proportion; pour in the soy and wine, and fill up with vinegar. It will be fit for use the day it is made.
Seasonable in August and September.
[This recipe was forwarded to the editress of this work by a subscriber to the "Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine." Mrs. Beeton, not having tested it, cannot vouch for its excellence; but the contributor spoke very highly in its favour.]
Slice enough of the onions, cucumbers and apples as thin as you can, so that you have equal quantities of each and enough to completely fill a 600ml earthenware jar or glass jug. Place alternate layers of the vegetables and fruit in the jar, scattering a little of the salt and cayenne pepper over the top as you add each successive layer.
When done, pour in the soy sauce and sherry then pour over enough of the vinegar so that the jar is completely filled. Cover with clingfilm and set aside to marinate.
If made in the morning, this will be ready to eat in the evening.
