How to Pickle Beetroot (Gran’s Tried and Tested Recipe!)

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Ever wondered how to pickle beetroot at home? It’s super simple and it tastes a million times better than shop bought! This is my Gran’s trusted recipe that’s been perfected over many years of trial and error. Trust me, just like with my homemade sweet chilli jam, you won’t want another sandwich without it! Read on for the full recipe and tips, plus how to sterilise jars.

Funny story – When I was little I was the fussiest eater EVER. I basically only ate 3 things. Chocolate (obviously), coleslaw and beetroot. I didn’t even like pizza. I know, what a weirdo right?! So I’ve had a very close relationship with beetroot from a really young age. 

My Gran grows lots of delicious fruits and vegetables in her garden, one of them is beetroot. It’s pretty much the only vegetable I make a point of knowing when it’s in season – just so I can get my hands on a jar of the good stuff!

I’m not joking, my Gran’s pickled beetroot is like currency in my family! It generates jealousy of the highest kind when you know someone else has a jar and you don’t. It really is that good! Come to think of it, so does her epic ham and cheese quiche. She’s basically a legend!

There’s something about it that’s so special, shop bought genuinely doesn’t even compare! (This applied to these pickled onions too!) It’s so soft and delicate with a punchy yet sweet flavour. I haven’t bought a jar since tasting it and that was a long time ago.

Because my Gran is unbelievably awesome, I asked her what her secret recipe was… and she told me! This made me CRAZY happy as I now have not one, but two jars of the best pickled beetroot in my house and I get to share the recipe with you!

How easy is it to pickle beetroot?

It really is very simple to make your own pickled beetroot. All you really need is time, there’s actually very little hands on with this!

1. Wash the beetroot and trim the stems
2. Place in a pan of cold water and bring to the boil
3. Simmer with a lid on for 1 hour
4. Dissolve a little sugar into vinegar over a low heat
5. Peel the skins off the beetroot and slice thinly
6. Place the beetroot into sterilised jars and cover with hot vinegar
7. Seal and allow to cool completely

 

See! Nothing to it.

What ingredients do you need to pickle beetroot?

There are just 3 ingredients required to make pickled beetroot. That’s all!

• Whole Beetroot – Try to use beetroot that is all similar in size and that are not really small or really large, but somewhere in between.
• Vinegar – My Gran swears by using malt (brown) vinegar as opposed to white. I trust her completely as it always works out so delicious!
• Sugar – Soft light brown sugar gives a slightly more caramelised flavour here but if you don’t have that, most sugars will get the job done fine.

 

Tips on How to Pickle Beetroot

As with any recipe, no matter how simple, we are all human and we all make mistakes! Here’s a few helpful pointers so you can nail it first time.

• Use a toothbrush to wash your beetroot before cooking. It’s gentle enough that it won’t break the skin but does a perfect job of removing all the dirt!
• Make sure your beetroot is nice and soft before you slice it. This is what sets this pickled beetroot apart from the shop bought versions.
• Try and peel the skins while the beetroot is still hot. If the beetroot and vinegar are hot, they will seal better in the jar.
• Don’t forget to remove any rubber seals before sterilising your jars! (I’ve done this before and trust me, it’s messy and STINKS!)
• Fill the jar as close to the top as you can. This helps the beetroot keep better over time.

 

Other recipes you might like

• Homemade Sweet Chilli Jam
• Gran’s Incredible Ham & Cheese Quiche
• How to pickle onions
• Perfect Homemade Hummus
• Spicy Rosemary Thins
• Cheesy Rosemary & Thyme Thumbprint Cookies
• Auntie Cathy’s Incredible Tomato Pasta Sauce

 

How to Pickle Beetroot

Here is what you will need to fill approx 1 x 500ml Jar. (There may be enough for a 250ml jar too, depending on the size of your beetroot.)

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

• 550g (19.4 oz) of Raw Whole Beetroot
• 270ml (1 + 1/8 Cup) Malt Vinegar
• 3 – 4 tbsp Soft Light Brown Sugar

 

Essential Equipment

• Large Lidded Saucepan
• 500ml Preserve Jar
• Small Saucepan
• Sharp Knife

 

First, trim the beetroot stems (550g | 19.4 oz raw whole beetroot) to about 1″ and give them a good wash. I like to use a toothbrush as it’s perfect for getting into all those nooks and crannies!

Now place them into a large saucepan (that you have a lid for).

Then cover them with cold water to about an inch above the tops, and place over a high heat.

Bring it to the boil…

Then reduce the heat to a simmer and pop a lid on. Leave to simmer for 1 hour so the beetroot gets nice and soft.

How to Sterilise Jars

Preheat your oven to 190°C/Fan 180°C/374°F and wash your jar(s) in hot soapy water. When there is about 15-20 minutes left on your beetroot timer, place your preserve jar(s) onto a baking tray with the lids off/open. Don’t forget to remove any rubber seals!

Place them into the centre of the preheated oven for 20 minutes. This is all you need to do to sterilise your jars.

Just make sure you don’t touch the inside of the jars with anything other than the beetroot/vinegar, or it will no longer be sterile.

How to Make the Pickling Vinegar

Meanwhile, with about 5-10 minutes to go, pour the vinegar (560ml | 2 + 1/3 Cup) into a small saucepan and set over a low/medium heat. 

1 tbsp at a time, add around 3-4 tbsp of sugar and stir through until it’s dissolved. If you can brave it, have a taste to check the sweetness is to your liking. Although, brace yourself – this is gonna tickle your throat a bit! (Well, it is pure vinegar!)

Keep this hot (but not boiling) until you’re ready to bottle your beetroot.

How to Prepare Your Cooked Beetroot

When the hour is up, drain the beetroot.

Then, as soon as you can handle them, remove the beetroot from the pan and peel the skins off. They should slip off very easily.

Now thinly slice the beetroot using a sharp knife.

How to Bottle your Pickled Beetroot

While everything is still hot (the beetroot, vinegar and jars), fill your jar(s) as full as you can with sliced beetroot.

Then pour over the hot vinegar and fill it as close to the top as you can.

All that’s left to do is seal the lid and allow it to cool. 

Everything needs to be hot when you do this because they expand when hot. Then, when things cool, they shrink. This is how the jars seal.

That’s all there is to it! Unopened, your beetroot will last in a cool cupboard for up to 1 year. Once opened, it will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Let’s be honest though, it’s addictive and is never gonna last that long anyway!

Have you made this recipe?

Will this gorgeous pickled beetroot be making it’s way into your home? I’d love to know if it is! Send me your pics, comments and questions on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram or email me at emma@kitchenmason.com.

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As featured on Julia’s Simply Southern Meal Plan Monday #224

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