If you’re like me, you can’t wait for peak tomato season, that magical time of year when there is an abundance of sweet, juicy tomatoes available everywhere you turn. But if you’re also like me, waiting for tomatoes to reach peak ripeness is, well, difficult. Produce ripening patience is certainly a learned skill. So, while we wait, let me introduce you to the green tomato. Green tomatoes are simply unripe tomatoes. They’re hard, crunchy, and a little sour. They’re absolutely delicious fried, but also the perfect candidate for pickling. And it’s incredibly simple to do. After a few days in a vinegary brine, the green tomatoes transform into tangy treats that retain their crunch. The perfect holdover for an impatient tomato lover.
It’s a Pickle Party
Quick pickling is one of my favorite methods for extending the life of my vegetables—and stocking my fridge with briny condiments and treats. It doesn’t require canning equipment and water baths, or an understanding of lacto fermentation—all you need is vinegar and a few days’ time. To quick pickle, well, anything, you simply submerge your vegetable (or fruit) in a brine of vinegar and water, stick it in the fridge for a few days, and wait. The fun comes in when you add spices and aromatics to the mix to infuse your pickles with different flavors. For these pickled green tomatoes, I love to add garlic, dried chile peppers, mustard seeds, and a bit of ground turmeric. The end result is a little spicy, a little sweet, and absolutely mouthwatering.
Customize Your Pickle
That being said, quick pickle recipes are mostly just formulas. Have fun experimenting with different flavor combinations to find your perfect pickle. A few ideas:
Change up the vinegar. This recipe uses apple cider vinegar, but you could swap in white vinegar, wine vinegar, or even rice vinegar (avoid aged vinegars like balsamic, though). Slice some aromatics. Thin slice a knob of ginger or a small onion and add it to the jar (this would be especially delicious with the rice vinegar swap).
Utilize that herb garden. Fresh herbs are a great addition to quick pickle jars. Pack a few sprigs of dill, thyme, or rosemary to your jar to add some herby flavor.Dig into your spice cabinet. Get creative with flavor combinations by adding more spices to the mix. Whole peppercorns, coriander seeds, pepper flakes, and smoky paprika all would taste great in the mix.
The Rewards of Pickled Green Tomatoes
Aside from snacking on a few straight out of the jar, I love using a few slices to top my favorite sandwiches (BLTs, grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches) or burgers, or chopping a few up to add to salads or savory breakfast bowls.
Have Yourself a (Quick) Pickle Party!
Pickled Zucchini Pickled Eggs Easy Refrigerator Pickles Quick Pickled Cherries Quick Pickled Radishes
For this recipe you can use fresh jalapenos or serrano peppers or dried chile de arbol, ancho chiles, or chipotle peppers. Seal the jar with the lid. Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!
