Recipes: Balsamic pickled shallots

Perfect partners for a creamy blue cheese

Ingredients

• 1½ kg small shallots or pearl onions
• 1l white wine vinegar
• 150ml olive oil
• 600ml water
• 140g golden caster sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black peppercorn , cracked
• 2 handfuls basil leaves
• 100ml balsamic vinegar

  

  1. Tip the shallots into a large bowl, pour over a kettleful of boiling water, leave to stand for a minute, then drain. When cool enough to handle, sit down, turn the radio on and get peeling.
  2. Set the peeled shallots aside and place all the other ingredients except the balsamic vinegar into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, then simmer for 3 mins. Drop the shallots into the pan and simmer for 8-10 mins until just tender. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the shallots and basil out into sterilised jars (see Know-how, below), then boil the liquid vigorously for 5 mins. Turn the heat off, stir in the balsamic vinegar, then pour over the shallots to cover. Seal the jars and leave for at least 3 days. Will keep for up to 3 months.

  Know-how
  To sterilise jars, run them through the dishwasher, or wash well in hot soapy water, rinse, then dry in a low oven. If you're pickling and recycling old jam jars, it's important to cover the pickle with a wax disc first so the metal lid doesn't react with the vinegar.
  

  NUTRITION PER SERVING:

  25 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 3g, fat 1 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 0g, sugar 3g, salt 0.26 g 

  
  
  source:bbcgoodfood.com