4 Best Recipes for Pickled Dogwood for the Winter

To prepare a firm, pickled dogwood, pay attention to the berry's characteristics and follow the proper technique. This piquant presentation can easily replace olives on a holiday table. Its interesting flavor complements meat dishes. Its pleasant, spicy acidity makes it a perfect appetizer for spirits. This beautiful, appetizing red fruit can be used for garnishing dishes.

The subtleties of preparing pickled dogwood

When choosing berries for pickling, you need to pay attention to the fact that the dogwood should be:

• fresh, picked 1-2 days before processing;
• dense, not losing turgor;
• clean;
• without visible damage to the integrity of the skin;
• not overripe.

Caution! Dogwood skins may crack during cooking. To avoid this, pierce each berry with a toothpick.

Preparing the necessary ingredients and containers

Particular attention should be paid to the purity of the main product and spices included in the recipe.

Both classic jars with metal lids and European jars with screw-on lids are suitable for pickling. Whatever container you choose, wash it thoroughly.

Sterilization is carried out using a dry method, in an oven or microwave, or with moist steam.

The best recipes for winter

When harvesting berries, don't stick to just one recipe; diversify your selection. By preparing several jars of different marinades, you can decide which one to choose in the winter.

Traditional method of preparation

The easiest way to pickle dogwood is as follows:

1. Prepare the marinade. Pour 150 ml of water into a saucepan, add 10 g of salt, 25 g of sugar, 25 g of vinegar, 1-2 cloves, and 1 bay leaf, and bring to a boil.
2. Prepared berries (0.5 kg) are added to the boiling marinade.
3. Simmer over low heat for 12-15 minutes.
4. They are placed in jars.
5. They're rolling it up.

Azerbaijani-style pickled fruit

The Azerbaijani method differs from the classic method by the presence of aromatic herbs and spices.

You need to add to the marinade:

• tarragon - 1 sprig;
• allspice peas - 3-4 pcs.;
• basil - 1 sprig.

This preparation will have a trail of aroma and a long, pleasant aftertaste.

Dogwood, like olives

The technology for preserving berries "as olives" is no different from the traditional method. However, the recipe is slightly modified.

When preparing the marinade, you should reduce the amount of sugar by half, but the amount of vinegar remains the same as in the classic version.

Recipe without sterilization

To prepare such a preparation, proceed as follows:

• cook the marinade according to the previous recipe;
• Place the prepared berries into washed jars;
• pour boiling water over the berries;
• stand for 3-4 minutes;
• drain the water;
• pour boiling marinade over it;
• they roll up.

Shelf life and storage conditions of the finished product

Store jars containing the mixture in a cool place. The shelf life should not exceed 12 months.