Pickled Walnuts - Vegetarian Society (2024)

Eating veggie » Recipes » Pickled Walnuts

Pickled walnuts can be bought in the supermarkets, but it’s straightforward to make your own. Once the walnuts are fully pickled they will be very soft and can be sliced or used whole.

Preparation Notes

This recipe involves steps over several days.

Ingredients

  • 1000g young green walnuts
  • 350g salt
  • 2000ml water
  • 25g black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp allspice
  • 1500ml white wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp dry ginger, grated
  • 5cm stick cinnamon, cut in half

Method

  1. Prick the walnuts all over with a carpet needle. Place the nuts in a ceramic bowl, dissolve half the salt in half the water and pour over the walnuts. Cover and leave for 5 days in a cool place, stirring twice a day to ensure even brining.
  2. Drain the walnuts, mix the remaining salt and water, pour over the brine and leave for another five days, stirring twice a day as before. Drain, spread out in a single layer on a flat dish and leave to dry in the sun until they are black.
  3. Crush the peppercorns and allspice berries and simmer the vinegar with the spices for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and strain. Pack the walnuts into sterilised, wide-necked jars, filling them no more than three-quarters full, and pour in the spiced vinegar.
  4. Cover and leave in a cool place for 6 weeks before using.

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Pickled Walnuts - Vegetarian Society (2024)

FAQs

Are pickled walnuts healthy? ›

They are a good source of fiber and magnesium, as well as vitamin E. Pickling walnuts will ensure that you receive all of these health benefits no matter what time of year, along with probiotics which are great for gut health.

Who eats pickled walnuts? ›

Pickled walnuts (from English walnut, Juglans regia) are a traditional British delicacy. The Royal Horticultural Society even mentions them.

Why are pickled walnuts black? ›

Soaking the walnuts in brine causes a chemical reaction to take place and the walnuts turn dark brown to black in colour when exposed to sunlight. The now-black walnuts are then placed into jars and a pickling solution poured over them.

What is the Flavour of pickled walnuts? ›

Al dente in texture, the green unripe nuts are picked from the trees before any hard shell has formed (and importantly before the squirrels have invaded) and steeped in a spiced vinegar to give their distinctively tangy, sweet flavour.

Is there a downside to eating walnuts? ›

Risks associated with walnut consumption

As walnuts are loaded with energy, it may lead to calorie overload, carrying the risk of obesity, unless you maintain a healthy routine of daily workouts. Some individuals may be allergic to walnuts and cashews.

Is it OK to eat a handful of walnuts everyday? ›

How many walnuts should you eat in a day? A 2021 article on the effect of walnut consumption found that consuming 30–60 grams of walnuts daily is beneficial for heart health. 30–60 grams is the same as 1–2 ounces or a 1/4–1/2 cup of walnuts.

Where did pickled walnuts originate? ›

Further discussions with Andrew's parents revealed that they were traditional British Christmas fare. Pickled walnuts were very popular in the 1700s and were usually consumed on Boxing Day alongside leftover cold meats, presumably because of their ability to enhance the flavour of meat dishes.

What did Native Americans use walnuts for? ›

As a food, indigenous peoples mixed the crushed nuts in breads and puddings. The nut meats were also an important ingredient in corn soups and several other traditional native dishes. The fresh nuts would be crushed and boiled to make a beverage. The bark was used cautiously in medicine because it is poisonous.

Which state produces 99% of America's walnuts? ›

More than 99% of America's walnut supply comes from California, where fertile soil and temperate weather conditions allow walnut trees to flourish.

Can humans eat black walnuts? ›

Black walnuts are one of the most flavorful nuts for snacking, baking, and cooking. These hard-shelled fruits have a sweet, delicate walnut flavor and are one of the most expensive nuts on the market. If you have a chance at harvesting black walnut trees, take it!

Are pickled walnuts fermented? ›

Cover the walnuts in brine and leave to ferment for 8 days at room temperature. Use a weight to ensure the walnuts stay submerged in the brine. Drain the brine, place the walnuts on a baking sheet or tray. Leave them outside in the sunshine for a day or until they turn uniformly black.

What is the disease in the black walnuts? ›

What is it? Thousand cankers disease primarily attacks black walnuts and is caused by the combined activity of the walnut twig beetle and a fungus it transmits. The fungus is spread as adult beetles feed beneath the bark.

What is the healthiest type of walnut? ›

Black walnuts contain less sugar and carbohydrates while providing higher amounts of essential nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and iron.

Which is healthier raw or roasted walnuts? ›

Raw nuts contain natural enzymes that can aid digestion. “nu*ts such as walnuts and pecans can be enjoyed raw to derive their full nutritional benefits. The heat from roasting can compromise the omega-3 fatty acids in these nuts, which are integral for heart health and brain function,” added Sisodia.

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