1. The result is hard to beet
From bowls of borsch to beetroot-cured trout; the Poles love cooking with beets. This recipe from Feast sees pickled baby beets team up with prosciutto, sour cream and dill-adorned rice cakes. 
Source: Feast magazine
2. Experimentation extends to eggs
Pickling isn’t just for fruit and veg. As touted by O Tama Carey, quail eggs are sensational when preserved in herbaceous, briny liquid. Start the recipe two days ahead, and pair your finished product with fennel salt, salsa verde and a handsome loaf of bread.
3. It’s the norm for a nation
In Nepal, cucumber pickle salad is prepared daily and served alongside breakfast, lunch and dinner. Featuring mustard oil, Himalayan herbs and ground Sichuan pepper, this recipe is so quick and tasty, you’ll crave it every day too.
4. Bite into the Big Apple
New York’s Lower East Side was once home to hundreds of pickle pushcarts and stores. Those fine, ol’ days are gone, but you can still garner gherkin action at delis and diners. Recreate the magic at home with a juicy Reuben sandwich, and the requisite garlic and dill pickles, of course.
5. Ain’t no better way to cool down
Thomas Jefferson once said: “On a hot day in Virginia, I know nothing more comforting than a fine spiced pickle”. America’s founding father was onto something. Beat the heat of an Indian curry with this Gujarati mango pickle.
Source: Alan Benson
6. Kimchi isn’t a quick fix (but we’ve found a way)
Korea’s answer to the pickle – fiery, fermented kimchi – has traditionally called for serious patience. The fermentation can take months, even years, and mastering this dish is said to be a lifetime commitment. Thankfully, we’ve created this incredibly quick, yet tremendously tasty, cheat’s kimchi.
7. Waste not, want not
Chilli tree bearing more fruit than you can handle? It’s a clear-cut case of Mission Impossible-y Delicious! Learn from the Mexican masters with this recipe for jalapeños en escabeche.
8. Sauerkraut puts barbecued onions to shame
If school sausage sizzles are good, then these bratwurst hotdogs in pretzel rolls with red cabbage sauerkraut are off-the-scale great. Drizzle with sweet German mustard and gobble with childish abandon.
9. It’s the cure to boring appetisers
The Seasonal Cook’s at it again, blowing our mind with her pickling prowess. This time it’s carne crudo, literally “raw meat”, with eschalots, lemon, parmesan and chives. If you like steak tartare, you’ll love this.
10. The juice is liquid gold
In September 2000, the Philadelphia Eagles trumped the Dallas Cowboys 41-14. It was a sweltering day and Philly defensive Hugh Douglas was suffering major muscle cramps. What gave him the winning edge? Pickle juice. Drink some brine yourself and read the full story here.
11. Pickled provisions last a very long time
Castella cake, tempura batter and the nanbanzuke style of marinating were brought to Japan in the 15th century by a bunch of Portuguese sailors. Preserved fish was undoubtedly on the ship’s menu, keeping the mariners alive. Thankfully these food traditions weren’t lost at sea.
12. Humble and healthy
Pickles mightn’t wear the superfood status of other ingredients (quinoa and kale, we’re looking at you), but the process is packed with health benefits. Fermented foods, like this cucumber kimchi, help us absorb nutrients and digest more easily.
13. Here’s the cherry on top
Pickling holds so much promise! There are countless herb, spice and vinegar combinations to enjoy. This recipe from Tama Carey matches cherries with cinnamon, cloves, mustard seeds and bay leaf. The juicy fruits are ideal with aged cheese, terrine or even Christmas ham.
Want more? Check out our pickle recipe collection and bring on the brining.
Italian picked cherries with sweet spices Source: Benito Martin
