My Nan’s Green Tomato Pickles

Green tomato pickles....lets see how long they last

The memories of my Nan was not really of her being  a foodie person.  Her creative talents lay with her knitting needles instead.  However one of my most favourite food memories that I associate with her is green tomato pickles.  They are a bit of a legend in our family, something coveted and devoured at a rapid rate when they are made.  Tart and slightly spicy, they are fabulous in a cheese sandwich with a  robust and sharp cheddar, with slices of ham on a plate and some salad, served with corned beef, served with eggs for breakfast or even with my Zucchini & Sweetcorn Fritters.

This batch was my first time making this recipe and whilst I was happy with it, it was not quite the same as my memories were anticipating.  One of the things I did differently is that I was using baby tomatoes because we were cooking up our crop from the garden.  It was not quite as successful, so I would definitely suggest that standard sized tomatoes are a must to get the right texture and consistency.

Ingredients:

• 3 kg Green Tomatoes
• 1 kg Brown Onions
• 1 kg White Sugar
• 1 – 1/2 tsp Curry Powder

  

  mustard and curry powder

• 2 tbl sp mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• handful of table salt
• 2 – 3L white vinegar
• 3 tbl sp plain flour

cut tomatoes into 1/4 pieces and place in a dish.  Sprinkle half a handful of salt over the tomatoes and leave to sit.  Slice cover the onions with the other half a handful of salt.  Allow both to stand overnight (min 12 hours).

let the cooking begin...

Put all the onions and tomatoes in a pan with enough vinegar to cover.  Boil for 3 minutes.  Mix the spices and flour in a small quantity of vinegar.  Then add the sugar and finally add this mix to the tomatoes and onions in the pot.  Cook for min of 2 hours.  When preserving make sure you have sterilised your jars/bottles in a hot oven.  If you add your mix to the hot jars and then put the clean lids on this will create a seal which means you don’t have to boil your jars.

pickles making their magic

This pickle will store very well, but I dare you to have it last long in your house once people start tasting it….  I almost had to blackmail one sister to make sure the other one got her Christmas present last year…..

Happy Cooking,

Leah