Piccalilli - The Twelve Craves of Christmas #1

As nights draw in here in the UK and the holiday season approaches, it’s fun (and prudent) to prepare or stock up on those special foods we eat as part of our family celebrations.

Everybody has their own favourites, here are just a few of ours!

Something about all those cold meats during the holiday season gets you craving a dollop of good Piccalilli by its side – not to mention a dollop with a with a wedge of pork pie, or cheese such as stilton… and it can rescue those dry turkey sandwiches we all enjoy (or endure).

It’s quintessentially British but of course it is totally influenced by India – it’s first referenced in the eighteenth century, described as an Indian style pickle (hence the cute name).

English mustard gives an addictive heat to the warming pepper and of course the beautiful saffron colour of the turmeric means a good piccalilli positively glows!

The vegetables can be a variety which include pickling onions, green beans, cucumber and cauliflower.  There’s still a satisfying bite to the vegetables, and at Christmas time it certainly qualifies as healthy fare.

There are many variations and it is a perennial quest to find the perfect Piccalilli to satisfy your cravings each holiday season. Do you prefer the cauliflower to be chunkier and more abundant than the green beans?  A greater wallop of mustard?

There are many recipes to try out if you want to make it yourself. It’s a good way to use up gluts of vegetables from the garden or allotment this time of year, so it is best prepared in Autumn, and kept for at least three to four weeks before enjoying.  Perhaps you can tuck a few jars away for Christmas and maybe even as Christmas gifts too.

Here are a few online recipes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/piccalilli_13702

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/english-mustard-pickle-piccalilli

https://www.sarsons.co.uk/recipes/piccalilli

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/jamie-s-piccalilli/

You can get pickling equipment like Kilner jars from Lakeland, Wilko and of course Amazon.

If you don’t have time to make Piccalilli yourself there are many commercial varieties available too, so you can shop around for one you like best – the classics that so many have grown up with are Heinz and Haywards.