Cherries in Vinegar
The cherry trees at the local pick-your-own farm appear to be laden with fruit, which hopefully will begin to ripen nicely over the next few weeks. So I thought I'd get in quickly with this recipe that I've been saving up since the last year's cherry season.
This is an easy and refreshingly different little pickle that works particularly well alongside cold meats, terrines and pâtés, but will also sit very happily alongside cheeses and richer meats like duck. As a bonus, once you've eaten the cherries, filter the pickling mixture and you’ll have a very fine cherry vinegar that can be used in salad dressings and marinades. The cherry vinegar is also excellent when used to deglaze the pan after cooking beef, lamb or duck.
There are a number of old British recipes for cherries in vinegar as well as many different versions of ‘cerises au vinaigre’ in various parts of France. My version is actually based on recipes from the Picardy region and I reckon that makes it virtually local.
Actually, this version is not really typical of most British or French recipes. Traditional British versions are usually spicier and often use the herb English mace, while many French recipes contain cinnamon and cloves. If you’d prefer the spicier flavour, then add a piece of cinnamon stick, some coriander seeds and maybe a few cloves to the vinegar before heating it. You could also substitute English mace sprigs for the tarragon.
The amounts in this recipe will fill one jar of around 750 ml but treat the quantities here as a guide, since the size and shape of the cherries will make a difference to how many you can fit in a jar. Essentially, you should aim to fill your chosen jar three-quarters full with cherries and then fill it to the top with the vinegar mixture.
Store the cherries for at least 2 – 3 weeks before using, although some people consider it a crime to eat them before 10 –12 weeks. The cherries should keep for at least a year but are so good with summer salads and picnics that they don't usually last very long at all.
350 g cherries
2 sprigs French tarragon
1 bay leaf
420 ml either white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
180 g caster sugar
100 g light brown soft sugar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Generous pinch of salt
Generous sprinkling of black pepper
A little freshly grated nutmeg
Sterilise a suitable 750 ml jar. Wash and dry the cherries. Don’t remove the stalks but cut them off close to the cherry. Don’t stone the cherries. Pack the cherries into the jar until it’s around three-quarters full. You can pack them in quite tightly but don’t crush them. Tuck the tarragon sprigs and the bay leaf in among the cherries.
Put the vinegar, sugars, lemon zest, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a pan and place on the heat. Bring to the boil, stirring frequently to ensure that the sugar has dissolved completely. Allow the mixture to boil for a minute or two, then take off the heat and let it cool.
Pour the cooled vinegar over the cherries until the jar is full. Seal and place in a cool, dark cupboard for at least 2 – 3 weeks. When serving, remember to warn people about the stones.
This is an easy and refreshingly different little pickle that works particularly well alongside cold meats, terrines and pâtés, but will also sit very happily alongside cheeses and richer meats like duck. As a bonus, once you've eaten the cherries, filter the pickling mixture and you’ll have a very fine cherry vinegar that can be used in salad dressings and marinades. The cherry vinegar is also excellent when used to deglaze the pan after cooking beef, lamb or duck.
There are a number of old British recipes for cherries in vinegar as well as many different versions of ‘cerises au vinaigre’ in various parts of France. My version is actually based on recipes from the Picardy region and I reckon that makes it virtually local.
Actually, this version is not really typical of most British or French recipes. Traditional British versions are usually spicier and often use the herb English mace, while many French recipes contain cinnamon and cloves. If you’d prefer the spicier flavour, then add a piece of cinnamon stick, some coriander seeds and maybe a few cloves to the vinegar before heating it. You could also substitute English mace sprigs for the tarragon.
The amounts in this recipe will fill one jar of around 750 ml but treat the quantities here as a guide, since the size and shape of the cherries will make a difference to how many you can fit in a jar. Essentially, you should aim to fill your chosen jar three-quarters full with cherries and then fill it to the top with the vinegar mixture.
Store the cherries for at least 2 – 3 weeks before using, although some people consider it a crime to eat them before 10 –12 weeks. The cherries should keep for at least a year but are so good with summer salads and picnics that they don't usually last very long at all.
350 g cherries
2 sprigs French tarragon
1 bay leaf
420 ml either white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
180 g caster sugar
100 g light brown soft sugar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Generous pinch of salt
Generous sprinkling of black pepper
A little freshly grated nutmeg
Sterilise a suitable 750 ml jar. Wash and dry the cherries. Don’t remove the stalks but cut them off close to the cherry. Don’t stone the cherries. Pack the cherries into the jar until it’s around three-quarters full. You can pack them in quite tightly but don’t crush them. Tuck the tarragon sprigs and the bay leaf in among the cherries.
Put the vinegar, sugars, lemon zest, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a pan and place on the heat. Bring to the boil, stirring frequently to ensure that the sugar has dissolved completely. Allow the mixture to boil for a minute or two, then take off the heat and let it cool.
Pour the cooled vinegar over the cherries until the jar is full. Seal and place in a cool, dark cupboard for at least 2 – 3 weeks. When serving, remember to warn people about the stones.
Wow never come across pickled cherries. Cherries in brandy is my favourite. Made now perfect in time for Christmas. However with cherry season in full swing here in Shanghai, and they are cheap, I think I will give this a go as it sounds really interesting and I love to try new things.
ReplyDeleteInteresting recipe, but may be just a few days too late for me. We have had so much rain over the past 24 hours I am sure the remaining cherries on our will have now rotted :( Stored for next year. Trying to catch up with posts but it is slow work! Hope all well Diane
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear about the damage to your crop of cherries. I've just been talking to some friends in the south of France and their fruit trees have also been devastated by very heavy rain. I'd always thought that the PYO farms grew small trees to make picking easier but it does also mean that they can protect them in a polytunnel if the weather gets really bad.
DeleteThis sounds absolutely delicious and a perfect way to store cherries for later on in the year. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos Phil, I will look out for pick me up cherries from the farms, would love that. I never had a pickled cherry before; it does look delicious and refreshing, looking forward to trying out.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely worth picking your own cherries and it's fun, too. But get there quick once the cherries are ripe - it's a very popular activity!
DeleteThese look amazing - my lot would love them. We have a cherry tree but the birds have a tendancy to get there first. The cherries are there, but green now - I will have to extra vigilant, and give this a go.
ReplyDeleteI like this one very much Phil. The idea of a spiced, tangy accompaniment for that pork pie really talks to me. We had an absolute bumper season for cherries in Australia last year. Best in over a decade. I hope next summer is as good so I can get bottling. I do have some cherries in sugar & brandy, laid down since 2004. Perfect for adding to the summer ice cream Christmas pudding!
ReplyDeleteHadn't thought of using cherries like this. Great idea, Phil. Used to have an enormous cherry tree in our Kent garden - miss it at this time of year.
ReplyDelete