Quick Pickles & Seasonal Vegetables
A pickling recipe perfect for beginners.
Inside Red Stick Spice Company
Anne Milneck at Baton Rouge's popular spice shop offers advice on everything from pickling to cooking with the hottest of peppers.
Watermelon Rind Pickles
8 cups water 2 Tbsp. coarse salt 5 cups peeled watermelon rind (leave a thin layer of pink), cut into 1/2 x 2-inch pieces 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup cider vinegar 1 tsp colored peppercorns 8 pieces whole cloves 1/2 tsp pickling spice 2 pieces long slices fresh gingeroot In a large pot, bring water and salt to boil over medium-high heat. Add rind pieces and boil until tender, about 5 minutes. Strain. Transfer rinds to a large metal bowl. In a saucepan, combine sugar, cider vinegar, peppercorns, cloves, pickling spice and gingerroot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 15 minutes, until slightly reduced. Pour over watermelon rinds in bowl. Place plate over top to keep rinds submerged in liquid. Cover and refrigerate for one day. Transfer to a glass jar and keep sealed in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Makes about 4 cups.