Pickling Spice
Pickling spice is a mixture of spices used for pickling meats such as corned beef and sauerbraten; vegetables such as cabbage, onion, and mushrooms; and fish such as salmon and herring. See Steamed Shrimp, and Crab Boil recipes. Some vegetable pickle recipes are Bread & Butter Pickles and Cauliflower Pickles. And a salad using pickling spice is Holiday Vegetable Salad.
Pickling spices are best left whole so the flavor cooks in without leaving any powdery residues that would make the liquid cloudy and unappealing. Tie pickling spices in a cheesecloth bag for easy removal. Use about 1 tablespoon pickling spice for each quart of liquid.
Common ingredients are: cinnamon, mustard seed, bay leaves, allspice, dill seed, cloves, ginger, peppercorns, coriander, juniper berries, mace, and cardamon. For a hotter mix, add some crushed hot peppers.
McCormick ingredient list: Cinnamon, Allspice, Mustard Seed, Coriander, Bay Leaves, Ginger, Chilies, Cloves, Black Pepper, Mace, Cardamom, and Sulfiting Agents
Pickling spice is a bit like barbecue sauce; everyone has a personal style and preference of taste. You can purchase pickling spice blends at the store or make your own.
Pickling Spice Recipe 1
Ginger instead of coriander (compared to recipe 2)
2 cinnamon sticks, broken
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon juniper berries
1 teaspoon crumbled whole mace
1 teaspoon dill seeds
4 dried bay leaves
1 small piece dried ginger
Makes about 1/4 cup.
Pickling Spice Recipe 2
Coriander instead of ginger (compared to recipe 1)
FMM: This is the one I made without the mace blades, which I didn't have. I like to add a bit more bay leaf as it always seems to be little left.
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
2 dried bay leaves, crushed (use more especially if small)
2 Tbs. mustard seeds
2 Tbs. whole coriander seeds
1 Tbs. whole peppercorns
2 tsp. whole cloves
2 tsp. whole allspice berries
2 tsp. dill seeds
1 tsp. crushed mace blades
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
