Pickled Fennel – Stealing the Show

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Midsummer … the woodland theatre at Kilruddery House’s 17^th Century gardens. Could there be a more perfect setting for Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream?  A light drizzle filtered through the woodland canopy and midges snacked on our ears as Titania and Oberon squabbled and Puck ran amok with a magic potion.

There was a smell of crushed grass and wet bark, mothballs and old attics as folk opened proper, wood-wormy, leather-strapped wicker baskets, quietly popped bubbly, or unscrewed interesting-looking/smelling/tasting flasks and jars. On that eerie, enchanted patch of damp grass, people shared… quietly… so as not to break the spell.

One jar that went home empty was a delicious fennel pickle. Sorry Shakespeare, it stole the show.

While I’m not the world’s greatest fan of either pickles or fennel, I can eat this fragrant crunchy pickle straight from the jar. It goes wonderfully with smoked mackerel pâté, white or oily fish­, and it has been the secret ingredient to lift a potato salad out of the ordinary.

About to get in a bit of a pickle...

 

For 1 x 500ml jar of show-stealing pickled fennel you will need…

1 fennel bulb, washed if necessary and trimmed of any blemishes

1 slice of lemon

1 fat clove of garlic sliced into about three thick slices

1 bay leaf

 

½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns

½ teaspoon whole mustard seeds

½ teaspoon whole coriander seeds

350mls white vinegar

150ml cold water

2 tablespoons each of sugar and salt

 

Slice as finely as you can...

 

Slice the fennel bulb as finely as you can then pack it into a wide-mouthed 500ml jar leaving about 2cm clear at the top. Tuck the lemon, garlic and bay leaf down the side

Pack into a wide-mouthed jar...

 

Place the peppercorns, mustard seeds and coriander seeds in a dry medium saucepan over a medium heat. When the seeds begin to pop add the rest of the ingredients.

Peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander seeds... the supporting actors...

 

Simmer until the sugar and salt have dissolved.

Carefully pour the hot liquid over the contents of the jar until everything is submerged. Poke with a skewer or chopstick to remove any bubbles of air that have become trapped before topping up the liquid if necessary. You’ll have a bit of the pickling liquid left over. Keep it in a non-reactive container and use it to make quick cucumber pickles.

Get rid of any air bubbles...

I usually leave the pickle in the fridge for at least three days before using to allow the flavours to develop (Alchemy...) and it will keep for up to a month, covered and refrigerated.

Alchemy at work...

 

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