I love pickling fruits and vegetables, and my Homemade Pickling Spice is a great way to add extra depth of flavor to the pickling liquid. Using spices in your pickling liquid balances out the sharp vinegar, salt, and sweet sugar, adding a different dimension of flavor.
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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
This easy homemade pickling spice recipe can be whipped up in just 5 minutes using whole spices that many of you are likely to have in your pantry at home.
For the best homemade pickling spice blend, I've opted for a combination of warming spices including allspice berries, cloves and cinnamon. I've also added some red pepper flakes for a kick of heat, but this is entirely optional and you can leave them out if you prefer.
Once made, you can use this pickling spice with a variety of fruits and vegetables, don't limit yourself to cucumber pickles. I've used this pickling spice in my Pickled Asparagus recipe, but it can be used with various fruits and vegetables, and I make some suggestions later in this post.
Ingredients
Here's what you will need to make my Homemade Pickling Spice:
- Bay leaves
- Whole mustard seeds
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole allspice berries
- Whole coriander seeds
- Red pepper flakes
- Whole black peppercorns
- Whole cloves
- Ground ginger
How to make Homemade Pickling Spice
Combine all the spices in a small bowl.
Mix them well to ensure they are thoroughly combined.
Store in an airtight container.
Use one tablespoon of pickling spice per quart of liquid for a pickling recipe.
How to use Homemade Pickling Spice
Homemade pickling spice can be added to any pickling liquid, heated up, and poured over a whole variety of fruits and vegetables. I've used this pickling spice in my Pickled Asparagus recipe.
You could use this same spice to pickle zucchini, cucumber, onions or shallots, bell peppers, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, green beans, and chilies. The list is endless, and I use it when I want to pickle and add more depth of spice and flavor, rather than just using vinegar, salt, sugar, and water.
Notes
- Don't use stale spices lying around your spice cupboard for months. Instead, use the freshest spices. You can check your ingredients aren't stale by rubbing a little of each between your fingers; if they release an aroma, they are good to use.
- I prefer to make smaller batches of spice blends; that way, they always taste fresh.
- A funnel makes it easy to pour spices into a jar.
- Double, triple, or quadruple the recipe if you like.
How to store
- If you use the pickling spice immediately, you can add it directly to your recipe. If you are storing it for later use, transfer it to an airtight jar.
- Store the spice mixture in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. If you are using fresh spices, it will keep for about 6 months.
- Do not store pickling spice in the refrigerator, as this will dull the flavor of the spices.
FAQs
You may very well have all the individual spices in your pantry, so this makes economic sense. Also, you can adapt the flavors to suit your own palette; if there is a particular spice you don't like the flavor of, you can leave it out.
Pickling salt is exactly what the name suggests; it is salt used in the process of pickling. In comparison, pickling spice contains no salt, only fried whole and ground spices, and herbs.
Pickling spice is made with whole spices, herbs, and occasionally some ground spices. I've used bay leaves, red pepper flakes, cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, allspice berries, cloves, mustard seeds, and black peppercorns. You could also add black mustard seeds, pink, green, white peppercorns, or green cardamon pods. You can use any combination of flavors, so I suggest using those you enjoy and have in your pantry.
Looking for more homemade seasoning recipes? Try these out:
- Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
- Adobo Seasoning
- Homemade Cajun Seasoning
- Homemade Blackened Seasoning
- Chicken Seasoning
- Homemade Fish Seasoning
- Homemade All-Purpose Seasoning Recipe
If you have tried this Homemade Pickling Spice recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Homemade Pickling Spice
Ingredients
- 2 cinnamon sticks crushed
- 2 bay leaves crushed
- 2 tablespoon whole mustard seeds
- 2 tablespoon whole allspice berries
- 3 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Combine all the spices in a small bowl. Mix them well to ensure they are thoroughly combined. Store in an airtight container.
- Use 1 tablespoon of pickling spice per quart of liquid for a pickling recipe.
Notes
- If you use the pickling spice immediately, you can add it directly to your recipe. If you are storing it for later use, transfer it to an airtight jar.
- Store the spice mixture in a cool, dry place. It will keep for about 6 months.
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