Gherkins

[Beryl]

Please help.
I have a glut of gherkins. Is there anything else  can do with them other than pickling?
The more I pick them the more they grow and there is a limit on just how much 2 of us can eat.

Thanks
Beryl.

[Beryl]

[Hot_Potato]

Bery - aren't they used in tartare sauce (which I just love)....haven't got a recipe handy tho but maybe someone has made their own - you could bottle some of that up for lovely fish dishes.....H.P.

[Mrs Ava]

Every recipe I looked at used pickled gherkins.  I did a jar today with fresh dill and garlic, smelled great!  I suppose, lots of cucumber like sangers!

[Doris_Pinks]

send them to me! My gherkin died a horrible death!

[Gadfium]

I've never tried pickling before, but given the number of flowers being thrown out on the miniature white cucumber plants... it looks like I'll have to delve into the mysteries of this method of preserving.

This may sound a bit daft, but does anyone know:

- what kind of vinegar you use (the supermarket has malt, and a clear one - but I'm not sure if this is a 'proper' vinegar or not)

- where can you buy a large carton of the right sort of vinegar?

[Beryl]

Thanks for all your advice. Yes,  have already pickled half a dozen jars. More than enough for us.

Doris, you can buy Sarsons spiced vinegar -  Waitrose stock it and probably other supermarkets to. Saves a lot of time.

I think I will now grub up the plants and and use the space for  the many leeks I still have waiting to go in.

[Mrs Ava]

My recipe for pickled gherkins used white wine vinegar.  You covered the gherks with sea salt for a day, then rinsed them, then put them in a clean bowl.  Bring your vinegar to the boil and simmer for 5 mins, then pour that over the gherks and leave for 24 hours.  Then tip the vinegar back into a pan, bring to a rapid boil, and leave to cool in the pan.  Once cool, pack the gherks, a couple of small shallots, couple of cloves of garlic and some dill into jars then pour over the vinegar and seal with a vinegar proof lid. 

They smell great!  If you want the exact recipe, let me know.

[BAGGY]

Really stupid question coming up ..........
Do you specifically buy gherkin seeds to plant and are they green house or outdoors?  Also which variety is a good one and easy to get.  Would you need more than one plant ?

[Icyberjunkie]

Just what I was thinking Baggy!!   Are they small courgettes, small cucumbers, a specific variety - does it matter?  :-\

[Mrs Ava]

Can't remember the variety I have grown, will try to find the label tomorrow, but they are very different to cucumbers.  They are very prickly, loads and loads on the plant, seem to be quite slow growing which meant I was able to pick a jar full all in one go for pickling.  They are paler in colour and much more 'bent'  :o