Pickled Beets and Spring Onions

• • • Makes 4 pints • • •

Beets might not strike you as especially Italian, but they are a staple in the cooking of the north. The roots are used in salads and the tops are sautéed in olive oil or tossed into soups. These beautiful magenta pickles, spiced with juniper, clove, and bay leaf, are delicious alongside simple roast chicken or fish.

2 pounds (907 g) beets, trimmed

2 tablespoons sunflower oil or vegetable oil

1 pound (454 g) spring bulb onions

2 cups (473 g) white wine vinegar

1 cup (237 g) apple cider vinegar

1 cup (237 g) water

½ cup (100 g) sugar

2 tablespoons fine sea salt

2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

6 juniper berries, lightly crushed

6 whole cloves

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

Equipment

4 sterilized 1-pint jars and their lids

Basic water-bath canning equipment (see page 15)

1 • Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2 • Place the beets upright in a roasting pan and drizzle the oil over them. Rub the oil in with your fingers. Cover with aluminum foil and roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Peel the beets and cut them into 1-inch dice. Place them in a bowl.

3 • Remove the green tops and bottoms from the onions and slice the bulbs into wedges.

4 • Combine the vinegars, water, sugar, salt, and spices in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Add the onion wedges, cover, turn off the heat, and let the onions steep for 1 minute. Remove the onions, leaving the brine in the saucepan, and gently toss the onions with the beets.

5 • Pack the beets and onions into the jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Strain the spices out of the brine and ladle the brine over the vegetables, leaving ½ inch headspace. Screw the lids on tightly and process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath (see Water-Bath Canning, page 15).

6 • Store the sealed jars in a cool, dark place and let the beets cure for 2 weeks before opening. Sealed jars will keep for up to 1 year. Store any jars that fail to seal properly in the refrigerator and use those first.