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Pickled Cauliflower

By Hank Shaw

October 31, 2011 | Updated November 07, 2017

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[summary]When I was growing up, every Italian restaurant had a jar of pickled vegetables somewhere around the counter, and for long years I thought “antipasti” specifically meant the combination of pickled cauliflower, carrots and onions that always appeared whenever you ordered “antipasto” at these red-sauce joints.

I actually like cauliflower, which can be an unloved veggie, and its firm texture and form lend itself to pickling. Crunchy pickled cauliflower is fun to eat, and the acid livens up what can be a pretty boring raw vegetable.

The method for this recipe is inspired by The Joy of Pickling, although I have changed the flavors around.[/summary]

[recipe_name]pickled cauliflower[/recipe_name]

[yield]Makes 4 quarts. [/yield]

Prep Time: [preptime time=20M]20 minutes [/preptime]

Cook Time: [cooktime time=25M]25 minutes [/cooktime]

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 4 teaspoons coriander seeds
• 4 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 4 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 4 dried hot chiles
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 7 cups white vinegar
• 7 cups water
• 5 tablespoons pickling or kosher salt

[instructions]

1. Get a large canning pot full of water hot. Be sure it has a rack or a metal steaming insert to keep the bottom of the glass jars from touching the bottom of the pot.
2. Toast the coriander, fennel and mustard seeds in a dry pan until they smell fragrant. Stir or toss occasionally. As soon as you hear the first seed pop, turn off the heat.
3. Meanwhile, break the cauliflower into pieces you’d want to eat as a pickle — neither too big nor too small. Do this by cutting down around the stem, then breaking the clumps of florets into smaller pieces. You may want to trim the stem pieces as you go.
4. Divide the toasted spices, thyme and chiles into 4 clean quart jars. Pack the cauliflower into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
5. Boil the vinegar, salt and water and ladle into jars. You might have some left over, depending on how tightly you packed the cauliflower.
6. Wipe the rims before you put on unused lids — you must use new lids every time, otherwise you might not get a proper seal; you can reuse the metal lid rims, though. Submerge in simmering water for 10 minutes, then let cool on a cutting board or rack. Wait at least a few weeks before eating, and these will be OK in the pantry for a year. Refrigerate after opening, though.

[/instructions]

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