Chinese Pickles Recipes

CHINESE PICKLED CUCUMBERS (酱黄瓜)

Steps:

• Rinse off the cucumbers and wipe them dry. Trim off both ends, and cut each cucumber into 4 equal sections. Cut each section into 6 equal-sized strips. Transfer to a bowl and add ½ teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Toss, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• At the same time, make the sauce by combining 2 ½ teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon black vinegar, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon dark soy sauce, 2 bay leaves, 4 cloves of garlic, and the chili peppers. Stir and make sure the sugar and salt are completed dissolved.
• Once the cucumber has marinated for 1 hour in the fridge, dump out the liquid from the bowl they were sitting in. You should be able to get rid of at least ¼ cup of liquid. Now add the prepared sauce, and mix everything well. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The cucumbers should be ready to serve the next morning with a hot bowl of congee!

OVERNIGHT CHINESE DAIKON RADISH PICKLES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, toss daikon with salt. Cover, and refrigerate until 1 to 2 tablespoons of water is released, about 30 minutes.
• Drain and rinse daikon, removing as much salt as possible. Pat dry with a paper towel, and return to bowl. Stir in rice vinegar, black pepper and, if desired, sesame oil. Cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours.

QUICK & SPICY ASIAN PICKLES

Steps:

• Whisk rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, and crushed red pepper in large bowl. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahed. Cover and Chill. Slice cucumbers crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Add cucumber slices to vinegar mixture; toss. Cover and chill ten minutes to 1 hour, tossing occassionally.

CHINESE PICKLED CABBAGE (SZECHUAN STYLE)

Steps:

• Cut the cabbage in pieces roughly 1" X 1 1/2" and separate the leaves.
• (There should be about 8 C).
• Using a 1 to 1 1/2 quart wide-mouth jar, dissolve the salt in the hot water; add the cold water, Szechuan peppercorns and chilies and mix well.
• When cool, add the gin and cabbage.
• Cover and refrigerate 4- 5 days.
• Remove the cabbage from the liquid and serve cold.
• The brine can be used over and over again (keep it refrigerated, of course).
• Add 2 t more salt every time you use it.
• After the first use it only takes about 2- 3 days for the cabbage to pickle.
• You'll need to add more chilies and another tablespoon gin after using the brine twice.
• Other vegetables can be used as well as cabbage.
• Try it with nappa, green beans, lo bok (dai kon in Japanese) or carrots.
• The vegetables can be combined.

CHINESE STYLE SPICY PICKLED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Toss the cucumber wedges with the salt and let them stand in a bowl for 20 minutes.
• Drain the cucumbers in a colander, rinse them under cold water, and pat them dry on paper towels.In a bowl dissolve the sugar in the vinegar, stirring, add the cucumbers, and toss them to coat them with the mixture.
• In a small skillet heat the sesame oil and the vegetable oil over moderately high heat until the oil is just smoking, add the gingerroot and the redpepper flakes, and stir fry the mixture for 5 - 10 seconds, or until the red pepper flakes are several shades darker.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and let the oil cool to room termperature.
• Pour the spiced oil over the cucumbers, toss the mixture well and let it marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Refrigerate and cover, stirring occasionally. Use within 5 days.