"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
Robert Louis Stevenson




Friday, April 2, 2010

Pickled Egg Recipe in the Old Norge Canning Jar


I have all these wonderful eggs from Jason so today I made pickled eggs. 

Growing up on a turkey farm in Wisconsin we were never short on eggs. I am sure one of the reasons Mother made these eggs was because of the abundance we had.

It has always been a family tradition to have these eggs on Easter morning for breakfast.  I remember how excited I was as a child to wake up Easter morning, leaping from the bed trying to be the first one down the stairs to search for my Easter basket.  Sometimes it was in the old oven, sometimes under the sink or in the crawl space behind the stairway.  I don't remember all the hiding places now, but I do remember these EGGS! 

After finding our basket my Mother would bring out a canning jar filled to the brim with these eggs.  I remember the first sour bite of the egg, pungent from the spices and the cider vinegar she used.  I am sure that this is the reason I love the taste and smell of anything made with vinegar.

Here is my version:

Easter Morning Pickled Eggs with Tarragon and Fig Balsamic Vinegar


Hard boil 12 eggs, cool and peel.  Place the eggs in a sterilized canning jar.

In a small saucepan over moderate heat add:
1 cup Rice Wine Vinegar (you can use seasoned rice wine vinegar also)
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons Pickling Spices
2 slices Sweet Onion, rings separated and cut in half
5 Black Pepper Corns
1 tablespoon fresh Tarragon (if using dried Tarragon, use 1 teaspoon)
1 tablespoon of a good quality Balsamic Vinegar, I like to use a Fig Balsamic Vinegar from Olive California, this will help to make the eggs a nice rich brown color.


Simmer for a couple of minutes then pour over your eggs.  Make sure the spices that end up at the bottom of the saucepan go in the jar, too.  Cover tightly with a new lid and jar ring, cool and place in refrigerator. 

These should be made one week ahead, depending on how tangy you would like them.  I have eaten them after only 24 hours and they are very good.  Serve these with a teaspoon or so of the brine poured over the egg and a nice piece of toasted whole grain bread for your Easter Breakfast.


You may or may not need all of this brine, it all depends on the size of your eggs and the jar.  I used a wonderful old Norge one quart canning jar that my friend brought back from a trip she made to Norway.  The 12 chicken eggs fit perfectly and had more than enough room.

2 comments:

  1. I am interested in trying out canning and pickling. I have never had a pickled egg! This is so interesting to me.

    I love your Easter morning memory! I'm really focusing on trying to create my own family traditions and I really like this idea. I will have to try this out on the kids and see if they like pickled eggs. I think they would love to help make this.

    Thanks Carla!

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  2. Carrie, it is so easy. If you like the taste of a boiled egg with some vinegar on it, that is pretty much what they taste like with a little more zip.

    Happy Easter to you and your family!

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