Pickled Everything

Last week I got a kitchen penalty for not having freshly pickled goods in the fridge.  Minus ten points!

But instead of making individual batches of Pickled Jalapenos or Pickled Tomatillos, I took a shortcut and made a batch of Pickled Everything.

So this quart-sized jar is loaded with Jalapenos, Carrots, Onions, and Tomatillos — all pickling together in harmony.

Sure, some of the individual pickled recipes on this site have their own preferences (like adding sugar to Pickled Onions), but overall they are similar enough to take a shortcut like this.

It’s also a good way to introduce pickled something to your kitchen if you’re new to the process.  Compared to canned goods you’ll get a massive upgrade in flavor, and it takes so little time that it’s become a regular routine in my kitchen.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

5-6 jalapenos
3-4 tomatillos
1 small carrot
1 small onion
4 garlic cloves

And here’s how it all looks after chopping:

I usually cut the onion into longer strips, half-moon style.  And yes, all of that somehow fits into a quart-sized jar!

Here’s a look at the spice mixture I used:

So in the above pic you’ve got:

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano
freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Kosher salt

But don’t sweat the spice mixture too much.  If you don’t have Mexican oregano on hand you can omit it and still get a good result.

I usually give the cumin seeds a quick crush in the molcajete to release some of their flavor.

And note that Kosher or sea salt is recommended for pickling.  Table salt will frequently have additives that can affect the brine.  I use this foodie-approved Kosher salt for just about everything in the kitchen and you can find it super cheap in most grocery stores:

(More salty advice.)

Start by adding the following ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil:

1.5 cups white vinegar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon salt

Instead of simmering the veggies we’re just going to give them a quick saute — this will prevent the tomatillos from getting too mushy.

Briefly cook the onion and roughly chopped garlic in some oil over medium heat.

Then we’ll add the rest of the chopped goods along with the spices.

Note that it’s best to use a non-reactive pan for this recipe — don’t use your favorite cast iron pan because the acidity of the vinegar will eat away the seasoning.

Saute briefly and then add the hot brine mixture.

Combine well and then add everything to a quart-sized Mason jar (or two pint-sized jars).

If you don’t have any of these jars it’s worth picking a few up at the grocery store — they are super cheap and and a non-reactive container (like glass) is best for storing the brine.

Yes, everything will be slightly pickled at this point, so feel free to take a bite!

But it will take a few hours to fully pickle so I usually tuck it away in the fridge and try to forget about it until tomorrow.

At which point you can open the fridge and have Pickled Everything to choose from.

The jalapenos take on a delicious flavor from the brine and spices — and some of their heat will infuse into the tomatillos and onions.   Nice!

These pickled yummies will keep in the fridge for weeks at a time.  (Note:  this recipe is not designed for long term canning.)

I use these pickled delights on all sorts of dishes:  Tacos, Chilaquiles, and yes, even Pizza!

And keep in mind that once you get familiar with this process you can always revert back to the individual recipes if you want.  Here are links to those recipes:

Pickled Jalapenos and Carrots

Easy Pickled Onions

Pickled Tomatillos

Okay, I hope this Pickled Everything recipe will get Pickled Something into your kitchen.  The fiery blast of acidity is a great finishing touch on a wide range of dishes, and if you find yourself munching on them straight from the jar then Everything has gone according to plan.

Buen Provecho.

Our latest recipe is a batch of Papas con Chorizo: