Handmade Pickles from a Wiltshire Kitchen
This is the crunchy end of the larder. Nine jars, all made by hand in small batches at The Old Rectory in Dauntsey, covering the traditional pickled onion and a good deal beyond it. If you want proper pickled onions for a ploughman's, or something less expected to put beside cold meat and cheese, start here.
What is in the pickles collection
- Balsamic Pickled Onions with chilli and thyme, 720g
- Malt Pickled Onions with mustard and coriander, 720g
- Pickled Shallots with honey and rosemary, 270g
- Pickled Shallots with star anise, 270g
- Gin-Pickled Cucumber, 270g or 720g
- Pickled Red Cabbage with a hint of ginger and chilli, 270g or 720g
- Pickled Carrot and Fennel, 270g or 720g
- Pickled Beetroot with a hint of thyme and cloves, 270g or 720g
- Pickled Kohlrabi, 270g or 720g
Six of the nine come in two jar sizes, so you can buy a small jar to try a flavour and a large one for the flavour you already know you like.
Balsamic or malt: choosing your pickled onions
The two onion jars are not variations on a theme, they are two different traditions. The malt pickled onions are the ones most British households grew up with, sharp and bracing, lifted here with mustard and coriander. That is the jar for a chip supper, a pork pie, a slab of mature cheddar and a pint.
The balsamic onions are darker and sweeter, with chilli and thyme giving a gentle warmth behind the vinegar. They suit a cheeseboard better, because the sweetness sits more comfortably next to soft and blue cheeses, and they are the easier jar for anyone who finds a traditional pickled onion too fierce.
If you cannot decide, buy both and put them out together. A board with two contrasting onions gives people something to talk about, which is half the point of putting food on a table in the first place.
Why the shallots are worth a look
Pickled shallots are smaller, sweeter and milder than onions, so they are the polite option. The honey and rosemary jar leans savoury and herbal and is good with lamb, roast chicken and hard cheese. The star anise jar is more aromatic, with a warm liquorice note that goes well with duck, pork and rich, fatty food generally. Both come in 270g jars, which is a sensible size for two people.
Beyond the ploughman's
A pickle is a sharp, crunchy thing whose job is to cut through fat and salt. Once you see it that way, it stops being a Christmas-only jar.
- Pickled red cabbage in a wrap, a burger or a bowl of rice and roast vegetables
- Gin-pickled cucumber with smoked salmon, cured fish or a gin and tonic on the side
- Pickled beetroot with goat's cheese, cold roast beef or a winter salad
- Pickled carrot and fennel alongside pork, oily fish or a sandwich that needs waking up
- Pickled kohlrabi for anyone who wants a crunch without the beetroot stain
- Any of the onions or shallots with cheese, cold cuts and a pork pie
Pickles also do the job chutney cannot. Where a chutney or relish is cooked soft and spiced, a pickle stays crisp and keeps its bite, so the two are worth having side by side rather than choosing between. For a full board, add a jar of fruit for cheese for the sweet corner and a sauce or jelly for the cold meat.
270g or 720g: which size to buy
Take the 720g jar if you are feeding a crowd, putting on a Boxing Day spread, or you already know that a jar of pickled onions does not last long in your house. The 270g jar is the right call for trying a new flavour, for two people, or for a picnic where you would rather not carry a kilo of vinegar up a hill.
Keeping pickles at their best
Store an unopened jar in a cool, dark cupboard. Once opened, keep it in the fridge, use a clean dry fork, and make sure the vegetables stay under the vinegar, since anything poking above the surface will soften first. Follow the guidance on the label for how long to keep a jar after opening, as it varies between recipes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between pickled onions and pickled shallots?
Shallots are smaller, sweeter and milder. Pickled onions give you a firmer crunch and a sharper hit, which is why they are the traditional choice with cheese and cold meat.
Which pickled onions are best with cheese?
The balsamic onions, because the sweetness and the gentle chilli warmth sit well beside soft and blue cheeses. The malt onions are better with a strong cheddar or a pork pie.
How long do pickles keep once opened?
Keep them refrigerated and follow the timing on the jar. Keeping the vegetables below the vinegar line will help them stay crisp for longer.
Do you sell pickles in a large jar?
Yes. Six of the nine pickles are available in a 720g jar as well as a 270g, and both onion jars are 720g.
Can I buy your pickles in person?
You can. Find your nearest shop on our stockists page, or come and taste before you buy at one of the markets and food festivals we attend through the year.
