piccalilli

 pickledlily

 Ingredients

  • 500g cauliflower , cut into small florets
  • 200g courgette , cut into small chunks
  • 100g green beans or French beans, trimmed and cut into small pieces
  • 200g shallots , peeled and cut into small chunks or pearl onions, peeled and left whole or halved
  • 600ml malt vinegar
  • 3 tbsp English mustard powder
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 2 tbsp black or yellow mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 4 tbsp plain flour
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 2 bay leaves

 Method  

  1. Put the veg in a bowl and toss with 2 tbsp sea salt. Leave, covered at room temperature, for 4 hrs.
  2. Drain the veg and wash well under cold water. Drain well.
  3. Put 100ml of the vinegar in a bowl with the mustard powder, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric and flour. Mix well to make a paste.
  4. Heat the remaining 500ml vinegar, sugar, bay leaves and a pinch of salt until the sugar dissolves, then pour in the mustard vinegar mix, simmering and stirring for 5 mins until the mixture thickens.
  5. Fold in the drained veg, heat for 1 min taking the edge off the veg, but still retaining a bite, then remove from the heat, and pack into three 500ml warm sterilised jars.
  6. Seal and leave in a cool dark spot for six weeks or up to three months before opening.
  7. Once open, keep in the fridge and use within four weeks.

I had an Aunty Lily.  A wonderful lady and friend and she was an expert at making piccalilli though we pronounced it Pickled Lily.  I have to say that she was never remotely near to being pickled.  I only ever saw her having a drink at Christmas and then it was only one small sherry.