Pickled Eggs
We have always had pickled eggs in our house when we were growing up – made by my Mother. Pickled egg sandwiches were – and still are – a favourite of mine. Once I had my own home, whenever my parents were going to visit, I asked my Mum to bring me some pickled eggs.
As we have always had them in the house, my son loves pickled eggs too – and I will be taking some to him when I next go and see him! I have no idea how many other people make and eat pickled eggs. It would clearly have originated, like most pickling, from preserving eggs when the hens had been very busy. Do many people still eat pickled eggs now? Does anyone make them?
Sliced pickled eggs are one of my favourite sandwich fillings and I do love them on a picnic, or for Sunday tea
Not Just Any Pickled Eggs
The ones my Mum always made were pickled in malt vinegar with some extra pickling spice left in the jar after it has been bottled to make the eggs extra zingy.
It is also possible to buy pickled eggs in the supermarkets, but I am guessing they are normally available only in the larger shops – and they appear to be in distilled malt vinegar, too.
Can’t imagine that they taste as nice.
Some pubs used to have pickled eggs on the bar, too. Drinkers would enjoy one with their pint.
More Than One Way To Pickle An Egg!
There are many variations of pickled egg recipes. I use malt vinegar but there are some recipes with cider vinegar. If you like your eggs more spicy you can add Tabasco sauce to the mix. The recipe below is easy and tried and tested over many, many years. It produces really delicious pickled eggs. I always used to slice them using an egg slicer.
For 8-9 eggs the pickled eggs will need a 1 litre Kilner jar. Pickling spices are available on the herbs and spices shelf of the supermarket.
Plan Your Pickling Day!
I should say that the vinegar smell will be with you in your kitchen for a few hours after cooking. It is best cooked when you do not have any guests coming round, or indeed any members of your family who are adverse to the smell of vinegar. My sister always had to be out the house the day my Mother pickled the eggs!
Once the eggs are in the jar they need to be left for at least two weeks for you to get the full flavour of the pickled egg. If you are using malt vinegar, the outside of the egg will go brown. They do need to be consumed within three or four months as they may start to go a bit ‘rubbery’ after that.
Do get in touch if you love pickled eggs too!
Cooking Notes
You will need a one litre Kilner jar
Pickled Eggs Recipe
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Yield: 8 eggs
Ingredients
- 8 Eggs
- 500ml Malt vinegar
- 15g Pickling spice
- 3 tablespoons Brown sugar
Cooking Directions
- Hard boil the eggs
- Allow to cool and remove shells
- Put the vinegar in a saucepan
- Add the sugar
- Add the pickling spice
- Stir and bring to the boil
- Simmer for about 10 minutes
- Allow to cool
- Place the eggs in the Kilner Jar
- Pour in the vinegar, allowing some of the pickling spice to go in the jar too
- Seal and leave for at least two weeks, before consuming
Penny, I have a 4 litre Kilner jar; I have 32 eggs which I think will just about fill the jar! After following your recipe I’m assuming that I’ll use 2 litres of malt vinegar and 60g of pickling spice. Would 12 tablespoons of brown sugar be too much?
I made pickled eggs for fifty yrs. Got recipes from mother. Used cider vinegar dried mustard and five cloves per egg. Always poured vinegar hot over cloves eggs. Never would change recipe. Thanks for listening
Thank you for this alternative recipe! I will try it next time I make pickled eggs! 🙂
Made these 2 weeks ago. Nice but a bit sweet. Would prefer without added sugar in the vinegar. Would it be ok to omit the sugar next time?
I have not tried it without sugar. May be add just a little rather than none. Let me know how it turns out!
Would it be ok to put the vinegar over the eggs warm
Yes that is fine
Hi,
I grew up in UK with pickled onions. Still makes my mouth water to think of them. They are in malt vinegar with spices.
I have one particularly large pickled onion jar that is empty except for the actual liquid. Every month I drop six boiled eggs in the jar, wait two weeks and then enjoy them over the next two weeks. I reuse the vinegar/ spice brine until I feel it is too weak, about six times, then I prepare a new batch.
It’s cheap , easy and delicious. I have tried others vinegars and additives like mustard, beets, and balsamic but keep coming back to malt vinegar with a few spices. It really is the best.
Give it a try,
David
I, too, grew up with pickled eggs. My family pickles them with canned beets which makes them red. We have always stored them in the refrigerator.
Do you just leave these on your counter top ? Or do you need to put in fridge?
Pickling is a way of preserving the eggs so no need to put in the fridge. 🙂
Hey,
Can you advise me please. Your recipe uses 500ml of malt vinegar.Whereas other recipes use a cup or two maximum. Cn you explain why the different amounts when it comes to vinegar.
Many thanks
Neil
I think it probably depends on the quantity of eggs you use. I can’t really comment on other recipes – this is the one I have always used and I believe produces the best pickled eggs! I suspect you need enough vinegar to more than cover the eggs in the jar. If you decide to try this recipe – or another – do come back and let us know what quantities you used. 🙂
Thank you for your recipe I will be making a batch for our house warming party
Oh Penny. I love pickled eggs but have never thought to pickle them myself…never mind with spices. I have been inspired. Pickled egg sandwiches…here I come!
Home made pickled eggs are the best! 🙂