Ingredients for Pickling Spices
A pickle is anything that brines food. The brine, usually made from vinegar, salt, sugar and a number of spices, is highly flavorful and can be made from almost any herb or spice.
Vinegar
Not all acids can be used for pickling. Vinegar, specifically white vinegar, is the most common choice for pickling because of its neutral flavor and clean taste, though other vinegars such as red wine, cider and rice vinegar can be used as well.
Salt and Sugar
Some pickles can be made using just dry salt. Kimchi and sauerkraut begin as salted vegetables, and the liquid drawn out of the vegetables themselves serves as pickling liquid. Sugar is added to pickling spices to balance harsh flavors of vinegar.
Herbs
Herbs are often used in pickling for their potency of flavors. Dill is the most popular and chief flavoring in dill pickles. Other herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, tarragon or chives, can be used to lend subtle flavors to pickles.
Spices
Spices are the backbone of pickling liquids and lend tremendous flavor to any brine. Some of the most common pickling spices consist of mustard seeds, allspice, caraway, cinnamon, celery seed and peppercorns, but anything from curry powder to nutmeg, tumeric to dried chiles can be used.
Pickle Uses
Pickles are used in almost every cuisine across the globe. Pickling is a good way of preserving vegetables and adding flavor to any cuisine.
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