Bread and Butter Pickles

Ingredients

900g Lebanese cucumbers, sliced into 0.5cm thick round slices
330g shallots, peeled and sliced to 0.5cm thick
40g sea salt
330mL apple-cider vinegar
365g caster (superfine) sugar
1 Tbs yellow mustard seeds
1 Tbs cumin seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Method

Combine the cucumbers, shallots and salt in a large mixing bowl, and toss gently to coat the vegetables in the salt. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to brine.

The next day, rinse the cucumbers and shallots in a colander under cold water to remove all the salt, then pack them tightly into a sterilised jar.

Place the vinegar, sugar and spices in a heavy based saucepan and bring to a simmer over a medium heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the liquid into the jar, making sure it completely covers the cucumbers and shallots, and seal it immediately.

Your pickles will be ready to eat the next day, but we prefer to leave them for a week to further develop the flavour. You can store the jar at room temperature for up to two months, unopened. Once opened, the pickles will last in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

Credits: This is an edited extract from The Tivoli Road Baker by Michael James with Pippa James published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $60 and is available in stores nationally.

Photo Credits: Bonnie Savage