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Home » Homemade Pickles » Simple Homemade Pickled Samphire

Simple Homemade Pickled Samphire

Author: Karon Grieve Published : June 2014

Recipe
This simple homemade pickled samphire recipe is a summer time special. This seaside veggie pickle is perfect with seafood salads. #pickles #samphire #seafood #larderlove

This simple homemade pickled samphire really does have the taste of the British seaside in every bite. Pickling the samphire means you can enjoy it’s salty almost asparagus flavour for longer.

top down shot of pickled samphire in jar

simple homemade pickled samphire

I have just spent the most wonderful week staying with Lis and her family in the seaside town of Tenby in Wales. Now many mock the weather in Wales saying it is the same as we have here on the west coast of Scotland – wet, windy and dull.

Well maybe it is sometimes but I was treated to days of dazzling sunshine and a warmth I usually only get to enjoy when I leave Scotland via an airplane and touch down on foreign soil. This was summer holiday weather and I loved every minute of it. Foraging on the island introduced me to samphire so I made my own simple pickled samphire when I got home.

samphire collageSt Catherine’s Island and Tenby Fort

I was enchanted by this mini mountain of rock topped by an aged fort that sits on the sandy beach at low tide but metamorphoses into a real sea bound island at high tide, giving it an altogether romantic look and immediately bestowing upon every inch the stuff of mystery, magic, tall tales and adventure.

Everyone loves an island and we all have our instant island thoughts, be they ideas of pirates and battles, romantic hideaways or the stuff of so many children’s books where adventures are an everyday occurrence and always washed down by lashings of ginger beer!

pickled samphire in large jar on a plate with sand

Foraging on Tenby Island

The island is covered in greenery and the air heady with the scents of the wild mint, thyme, samphire and flowers. Thistles, wild cabbage and daisies abound.

It is a walk on the wild side, surrounded as you are by fresh sea air, blue skies, turquoise sea, rocks, sand and of course the ubiquitous seagulls chanting their cry as they swoop and dive overhead, eager eyes alight for the slightest sign that you might be carrying food and thus become a target for dive bombing and crisp/chip theft.

samphire 1

What is samphire

It is the samphire that I latched on to right away. This is rock samphire on the island but very similar to the marsh samphire that is now available in many of our supermarkets in summertime.

Samphire is a super healthy greenery from the seaside packed with minerals and nutrients.

samphire 2

What does samphire taste like?

Well, it has a delicate flavour somewhat similar to asparagus, in fact in many places it is called Sea Asparagus.

How do you serve samphire?

You can serve samphire raw as a salad green or lightly steamed or boiled for a couple of minutes and served with butter and a squeeze of lemon juice.
I decided that in the interests of the larder I should pickle my samphire and have it last just a little while longer.

looking down into pickle jar

Ingredients for pickled samphire

100g/3 1/2oz fresh samphire
1 clove garlic finely sliced
1 bay leaf
350ml/12 fl oz apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sugar
6 black peppercorns
1 star anise
2 allspice berries
1 tsp coriander seeds.

pickled samphire close up by larderlove.com

How to make pickled samphire

Pick over the samphire and rinse under cold water before patting dry on kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.
Pack the samphire into a sterilised jar and add the bay leaf and finely sliced garlic.
In a small non reactive pan gently heat the apple cider vinegar, sugar and all spices until the sugar has dissolved and then raise the heat to boil the liquid for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and pour the hot pickling liquid over the samphire in the jar.
Pop on the lid and leave to mature in a cool dark place for 1 month for the flavours to mature.

New to preserving? Then don’t panic, I can take you from zero to hero in no time at all.

Just check out these handy articles to get you heading in the right direction fast;

How to make great jam and marmalade

How to make cool curds

How to make great jelly

How to make chutney and relish

How to sterilise jars and bottles

Sticky situations – troubleshooting your preserves

Different types of preserves

My favourite preserving kit

How much pickle does this make?

This recipe makes 1 medium sized jar. (500ml)

I adored my week in Wales and I shall share a few more photos with you later this week. In the meantime I have my pickled samphire to bring back memories.

simple homemade pickled samphire by larderlove.com

How to serve pickled samphire

This simple pickled veggie goes well with salads especially those involving seafood. Think crab or prawn/shrimp salad. It goes well with potato salad too and with juicy fresh tomatoes.

Add some pickled samphire to a fabulous seafood salad wrap for the perfect beach style picnic lunch.

How long will this pickled samphire keep?

You can store this unopened in a cool dark cupboard for up to 6 months. Once opened store in the fridge and eat within a week.

larder links

Looking for more fun and easy pickling ideas? Then check these out;

Super tasty pickled carrots

Perfect pickled pumpkin

Super easy pickled cucumber

Pickled blackberries

Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.

Photos And Tips AboveMost of my recipes have step by step photos and useful tips plus videos too, see above.
simple homemade pickled samphire by larderlove.com

Homemade Simple Pickled Samphire

Karon Grieve
Super tasty this samphire pickle is perfect with seafood, sandwiches and salads
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Comment Bookmark Saved! Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course pickles
Cuisine British
Servings 1 500ml jar
Calories 105 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 100 g samphire
  • 1 clove garlic finely sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 350 ml apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 1 star anise
  • 2 allspice berries
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds.
Metric – US Customary

Instructions
 

  • Pick over the samphire and rinse under cold water before patting dry on kitchen paper or a clean tea towel.
  • Pack the samphire into a sterilised jar and add the bay leaf and finely sliced garlic.
  • In a small non reactive pan gently heat the apple cider vinegar, sugar and all spices until the sugar has dissolved and then raise the heat to boil the liquid for 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and pour the hot pickling liquid over the samphire in the jar.
  • Pop on the lid and leave to mature in a cool dark place for 1 month.
  • You can store this unopened for up to 6 months. Once opened store in the fridge and eat within a week.

Notes

Delicious with seafood, salads, BBQ, sandwiches and more

Nutrition

Calories: 105kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 19mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg
My Top Tips*Always read the full recipe first. *Assemble all your ingredients and everything you need before you start. *For baking check the size of tins I’m using as this makes a big difference to your cakes. * I use medium sized eggs unless otherwise stated. * I use extra virgin olive oil unless otherwise stated. * I use unsalted butter unless otherwise stated. * Check out My Preserving Kit!
Keyword samphire
Tried this recipe?Mention @LarderLove or tag #LarderLove

 

Filed Under: ALL RECIPES, Foraging Recipes, Homemade Pickles, Spring

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Comments

  1. Ed says

    May 19, 2021 at 10:13 am

    If I where to brine the samphire before pickling, would it maintain its crunch better?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Karon Grieve says

      May 20, 2021 at 9:10 am

      Hi Ed
      This is just how I make this so I haven’t actually tried brining it first.
      K

      Reply

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