Happy National Pickle Day!

by Alexa Weibel, Posted Nov 14th 2009 @ 1:00PM

Assorted pickled vegetables. Photo: vbalchen, Flickr.

Happy National Pickle Day! Though most commonly perceived and popularized as a brined cucumber, the "Food Lover's Companion" defines the pickle as any "food that has been preserved in a seasoned brine or vinegar mixture." According to the guide, the most popular pickling subjects beyond the cucumber typically include pearl onions, cauliflower, watermelon rind, baby corn, herring and pig's feet -- though most any vegetable can be pickled, it need only be firm enough to not dissolve in brine.

Brines range from sweet (Bread-and-Butter Pickles), to sour or hot (Spicy Dill Pickles), or may take on the flavor of whatever additives, from herbs to spices (Rosemary-Garlic Pickles). And the brine itself holds a range of uses too: soup stock, drink base, even hangover remedy! In one of the more surprising uses, a shot of pickle juice follows a shot of Jameson in the "pickle back" drink.

For an unexpected range of recipes, check out ilovepickles.org and get creative!

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Filed Under: Holidays
Tags: bread-and-butter pickles, Bread-and-butterPickles, condiments, did you know, ilovepickles.org, national pickle day, NationalPickleDay, oddities, pickle, pickle back, PickleBack, pickling, rosemary-garlic pickles, Rosemary-garlicPickles, spicy dill pickles, SpicyDillPickles, vegetables