Wild Fermented Zucchini Relish with Foraged Herbs

  • Yield:3 pints
  • Time:
    2 hrs, 20 mins show details

Ingredients

  • For the Brine
  • 2 pounds
    zucchini, seeded, diced small
  • 1
    yellow onion, diced
  • 1
    bell pepper, diced
  • 3
    wild garlic or garlic scapes, minced
  • 3 tablespoons
    sea salt
  • filtered water, as needed
  • For the Pickling Solution
  • 1 cup
    apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup
    raw honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon
    ground turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon
    mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon
    coriander seeds, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon
    fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 tablespoons
    wild mint or lemon basil, chopped
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Equipment

  • large pot
  • canning jars
  • boiling water bath canner

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Preparation

  1. Remove all seeds and spongy centers from the zucchini—the firm outer flesh is what we want. Dice everything uniformly so it pickles evenly.

  2. 2 hrs

    Toss the diced vegetables with sea salt in a glass bowl. Cover with filtered water and let stand 2 hours or overnight to draw out moisture.

  3. Drain the vegetables thoroughly and squeeze gently in clean kitchen towels to remove excess water. You want about 4 cups of well-drained vegetables.

  4. Combine vinegar, honey, and all spices in a heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a gentle boil, then add the drained vegetables.

  5. 10 mins

    Simmer for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir in the wild herbs during the last minute to preserve their bright flavor. (Wild mint adds complexity, but cultivated lemon basil works beautifully if you can't forage)

  6. 10 mins

    Pack into clean jars, leaving quarter-inch headspace. Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes, or simply refrigerate for immediate use.

Notes

This keeps its crunch and develops deeper flavor after a week. Excellent with grilled fish or folded into grain salads. Wild garlic scapes, when available in late spring, add a subtle complexity that regular garlic cannot match.

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