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    Home / Recipes / Course / Appetizer

    31 Dec 16, 2013 Appetizer  |   Jump to Recipe

    Pickled Quince

    Pickled Quince

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Last year, I had mentioned that quince was one of my new seasonal favorites, and this year, I’ve been even more enamored with it. During my 2-Year Anniversary celebration, I served champagne poached quince with Greek yogurt and honey for dessert. And for Thanksgiving, I served Pickled Quince at the appetizer table beside a wedge of creamy brie and an assortment of salty crackers. Quince is so versatile, easy to prepare, and completely unexpected. If you’ve never given it a try, you simply must.

    Similar in appearance to a pear or apple, the quince is a pome fruit that is fairly inedible in it’s raw form. Quince must be cooked to reach their full flavor potential. The fruit is hard when it is ripe and unripe, so you must use your nose to gauge ripeness. Bring the tail end (not the stem end) of the quince to your nose. If it smells fresh and floral, it is ripe.

    In this recipe for Pickled Quince, slices of peeled quince are simmered in a bath of apple cider vinegar, cane sugar, juniper, black peppercorn and fresh bay leaf. The resulting pickle is incredibly tart and fragrant with a hint of sweet and spice. Pickle Quince would be perfectly at home on any cheese and salumi board, or pair well with any rich, fatty meat (especially pork). Continue reading for the recipe.

    Quince
    Quince Spices 

    Pickled Quince

    Pickled Quince

    by Brandon Matzek
    Adapted from Nigel Slater.
    4.34 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups plus scant 1/4 cup (750 ml) organic apple cider vinegar
    • 2 cups (400 g) fine grain natural cane sugar
    • 12 dried juniper berries
    • 10 black peppercorns
    • 1 fresh bay leaf
    • 3 medium quince*

    Instructions
     

    • Add apple cider vinegar, sugar, juniper, black peppercorns and bay to a medium, non-reactive (not aluminum) pan set over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.
    • Peel, quarter and core each quince, then cut each quarter into 3 slices. Carefully drop the slices into the simmering vinegar, and cook until tender (20 - 30 minutes). An inserted fork should meet no resistance.
    • Using a slotted spoon, transfer quince to a large, clean jar (or several small ones), then pour the pickled liquid over top. The fruit should be submerged in the liquid. Let the fruit cool to room temperature, seal the jar, and store in the refrigerator (for up to a month).

    Notes

    *See notes above for selecting a ripe quince.
    Tried this recipe?Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can check it out!

     

    31
    Brandon and Federico
    Brandon

    I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!

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    Categories: Appetizer Tags: apple cider vinegar, bay, black pepper, juniper berries, natural cane sugar, quince

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. sippitysup says

      December 17, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      This is just plain a great idea. One I obviously would have come up with myself (eventually) if I hadn’t stumbled over here. So I guess I’ll just have to steal it. GREG

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        December 17, 2013 at 4:04 pm

        Haha thanks Greg! Steal away, but definitely let me know how you like it 😉

        Reply
    2. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

      December 22, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      I love pickled foods so much! I have never had quince. I know, where have I been. From how you describe it as a pear/apple but is pretty inedible raw, I bet the texture stays firm and I’d love this. With the black peppercorns too. Great contrast! pinned!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        January 9, 2014 at 10:39 am

        Thanks Averie! Yeah quince are definitely unique, but more and more markets are starting to carry them when in season.

        Reply
    3. Tabi says

      January 3, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      Primo;
      I justo love membrillos… MUST try this ooohhh siiiii

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        January 9, 2014 at 10:38 am

        Thanks Tabi :)!!!

        Reply
    4. Maria says

      March 11, 2014 at 3:48 am

      Can I can this for longer shelf life?

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 11, 2014 at 6:31 am

        Hi Maria, I haven’t done this myself, but I’m sure you could.

        Reply
    5. kylie says

      May 15, 2015 at 9:16 pm

      I have left in fridge up to a year and still good… even when they have been opened. Really nice tossed through a brown rice pilaf with halloumi.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        May 19, 2015 at 6:33 am

        Excellent! Glad to hear you’ve been enjoying them all year 🙂

        Reply

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    Brandon and Federico

    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read More…


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