Pickled Walnuts (2024)

A traditional English accompaniment to cold meats and blue cheeses, pickled walnuts have a buttery texture and sharp flavour with a hint of nuttiness that’s curiously addictive. You need to pick the walnut fruits before the nuts inside begin to harden – test one by seeing if you can push a skewer right through without any resistance – usually around late June.

The juice from the walnuts is very staining – as is the brine in which they steep – so wear gloves and an apron and mop up any spills as quickly as you can.

Makes : 2 × 750ml jars

Prep : 11 days + 1 month maturing

Cook : 5 minutes

  • 850g green walnuts, picked before the shells begin to harden
  • 750g fine sea salt
  • 2 onions
  • 850ml cider vinegar
  • 1 large wood avens root
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon peppercorns
Pickled Walnuts (2024)

FAQs

Are pickled walnuts healthy? ›

Health Benefits of Pickled Walnuts

Walnuts have many health benefits, as they have a lot of healthy, polyunsaturated fats, which are good for your heart and can help keep cholesterol down, as they also contain omega-3.

Who eats pickled walnuts? ›

Pickled walnuts (from English walnut, Juglans regia) are a traditional British delicacy.

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? ›

Excess calories are an obesity risk. Allergy. Among the tree nuts, walnuts and cashews most frequently cause allergic reactions in America. Allergies to walnuts can appear as skin rashes, digestive problems, or respiratory symptoms like cough and wheezing.

Is it OK to eat walnuts everyday? ›

Gut health

Bacteria and microbes in your intestines and gut are also essential to your health. Research shows walnuts can improve gut health. In a clinical trial, adults who ate walnuts every day had healthier gut bacteria.

What to eat pickled walnuts with? ›

Put them on your cheeseboard. They pair particularly well with blue cheese – Roquefort, Cashel blue and Stilton are my favourite cheeses to eat with Opies Pickled Walnuts. Enjoy them in stuffing.

Why do Russians eat so many pickles? ›

Russian food couldn't exist without pickles and other preserves. Their tangy flavors decorated tables, increased appetites, and added new tastes to nearly any dish. Russian pickles and preserves arose from the need to preserve food throughout the long winters, in the days before refrigeration.

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.

Why are black walnuts so expensive? ›

Tree Quality – The higher the quality of the black walnut tree, the higher its value. Learn more about determining black walnut tree value by reading this article. Harvest Quantity – The more black walnut trees loggers harvest from a property, the higher the price you can expect to receive.

What is the disease in the black walnuts? ›

Thousand cankers disease (TCD) ravages black walnut trees, which are recognized as some of the rarest, most valuable hardwoods in North America. The disease is caused by a harmful fungus (Geosmithia morbida) spread by walnut twig beetles (Pityophthorus juglandis).

Do black walnuts need to be soaked before eating? ›

Because the black walnut shell is tougher than other nutshells, the nutmeat may be a bit challenging to remove. Another option is to soak the nuts for a couple of hours before opening – the shell will absorb water and soften, making them less likely to break apart inside.

Why do my walnuts taste funny? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Why do walnuts taste fishy? ›

Walnuts go rancid when exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Heat causes the fat in walnuts to change structure, which creates off odor and flavors. Rancid nuts are not unsafe, but they have a sharp flavor most people find unpleasant.

What is the most popular pickle flavor? ›

Dill pickles are the most commonly known pickle type. Dill pickles include vinegar, pickling salt, and dill in its brine, whether it be fresh, dried, or in seed form. Dill pickles can also be prepared to be Kosher certified.

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.

Are walnuts healthy or fattening? ›

Though relatively high in calories, walnuts are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, fats, and plant compounds that may help support good physical functioning as you age. A healthy diet that includes walnuts may help preserve physical function, such as walking and self-care abilities, as you age.

Is eating too much pickled foods bad? ›

Pickles are very high in sodium because it's an important part of the brining process. Consuming too much salt in your daily diet can contribute to high blood pressure. Anyone who is on blood pressure medication or looking to reduce their sodium intake should eat pickles in moderation or look for low sodium options.

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