Pickled Red Cabbage (with canning instructions)
Making pickles isn’t really about a specific recipe. Rather, pickling is a technique that you can apply to almost anything once you have tucked the method into your DIY toolkit. Knowing how to pickle gives you the power to preserve that big harvest of cucumbers, the monster zucchini from your neighbor, or the cabbages that came in this week’s farm delivery. Plus, pickles made at home are delicious and can accompany pretty much everything. Why waste when you can pickle?
Ingredients
One head of red cabbage, outer leaves removed and shredded
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 scallions or Egyptian onions
1 inch chunk of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
Basic Pickle Mix1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
2 cups distilled white vinegar
1/3 cup salt
1/3 cup sugar
savory or bay leaf
1/2 tsp of each: cumin seeds, coriander seeds, whole peppercorns
a few cloves or star anise (optional)
Utensils
Grater
Large bowl
Medium sized saucepan
Wooden spoon
4 clean pint jars with clean lids for sealing
Larger pot with lid for hot packing
Tongs for lifting out jars
Directions
Grate/Shred half the the cabbage into a large bowl. Sprinkle generously with salt and massage the salt into the veggies. Grate in the other half, sprinkle with salt, and massage it all in.
Wash your hands. They will be a little purple from the cabbage, but it wears off quickly.
Cover the bowl with a cloth or towel and set aside
Meanwhile, organize your utensils and prep your other ingredients.
Make sure your jars and lids are clean and in perfect condition (no nicks)
Sterilize the jars and lids: Fill a large pot of water and place the jars and lids in the water. Bring the water and jars slowly up to a boil. Boil for two minutes, then lower to simmer and put a lid on the pot to keep the jars hot
Mince the garlic and slice the onion
Mix the white and cider vinegars in a medium sized saucepan. Add the garlic, onion, and spices.
Heat the contents of of the medium saucepan gradually. As the vinegar gets warmer, add the salt and sugar. Stir to dissolve. Bring to a low boil for five minutes, then lower to simmer.
Drain the cabbage through a colander. Press with a fork to squeeze out excess moisture
Canning Instructions
To keep everything hot and sterile, I pack my jars one at a time. Carefully, lift a jar from the hot water with tongs, drain the hot water back into the pot, and place the jar on the counter.
Pack the jar loosely with the salted cabbage. Leave half an inch of headspace at the top.
Pour the hot vinegar pickle mix into the jar over the cabbage. Leave half an inch of headspace at the top.
Carefully lift a hot lid from the hot water, and with a towel or kitchen mitt, tighten the lid onto the jar.
Wipe any spills dribbles off the packed jar and place it gently back in the hot water.
Repeat steps 1 through 5 until all your jars are packed and in the pot.
Make sure the jars are submerged at least an inch below the level of the water. If not, add more water or use a bigger pot if necessary!
Bring the water back up to a boil with the jars submerged. Gently nudge them apart with a wooden spoon if they clink against each other. *If you start doing large canning projects, you can invest in a canning rack.
Boil the jars for at least ten minutes. You will see bubbles escaping from under the lids — that is the air being forced from the jars which is what creates the seal to preserve the contents. Higher altitudes require a longer boiling time. Check the internet for the correct processing time for where you live. (Simply Google “water bath canning altitude.”)
Once the jars have boiled for the required time, turn off the heat and let the jars sit in the water for 5-10 minutes to cool down. If you lift them out right away, the abrupt change in temperature can crack the jars.
Ok, congratulations! Lift out your jars and admire them in the light. They are beautiful! Stored in a cool, dark place, they will keep for at least 9 months.
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Kristen Krash is the co-founder and director of Sueño de Vida, a regenerative cacao farm and reforestation mission in Ecuador. Sueño de Vida works to educate and inspire everyday people about permaculture, sustainable living, environmental activism, and healthy living all in the name of living more in harmony with nature to create a better world for us all.