Pickled Eggs for Easter or Everyday

 



I originally posted this recipe for pickled eggs on my garden blog Thyme in a Bottle, last April. I thought I would post it here now that I have a blog devoted to my herbal cooking adventures.

Growing up on a turkey farm in Wisconsin we were never short on eggs. I am sure one of the reasons Mother made these eggs was because of the abundance we had. It has always been a family tradition to have these eggs on Easter morning for breakfast. 

I remember how excited I was as a child to wake up Easter morning, leaping from the bed trying to be the first one down the stairs to search for my Easter basket.  Sometimes it was in the old oven, sometimes under the sink or in the crawl space behind the stairway.  I don't remember all the hiding places now, but I do remember these EGGS! 

After finding our basket my Mother would bring out a canning jar filled to the brim with these eggs.  I remember the first sour bite of the egg, pungent from the spices and the cider vinegar she used.  I am sure that this is the reason I love the taste and smell of anything made with vinegar.

Easter Morning Pickled Eggs with Tarragon and Fig Balsamic Vinegar.

PRINTABLE RECIPE

**12 hard boiled eggs, cooled and peeled. 

In a small saucepan over moderate heat add:
1 cup Rice Wine Vinegar (you may use seasoned rice wine vinegar)
½ cup Water
2 tablespoons Pickling Spices
2 slices Sweet Onion, rings separated and cut in half
5 Black Pepper Corns
1 tablespoon FreshTarragon (if using dried tarragon, 1 teaspoon should be enough)
1 tablespoon of a good quality Balsamic Vinegar (I like to use a Fig Balsamic ; this will help to make the eggs a nice rich brown color and give a wonderful earthy flavor).

Simmer this mixture for a couple of minutes. Place the eggs in a sterilized canning jar, now pour your brine over the eggs.  Make sure the spices that end up at the bottom of the saucepan go in the jar too.  If your eggs are not completely covered with liquid, add some very hot water.  Cover tightly with a new clean lid and jar ring, cool and place in refrigerator.
 
These should be made one week ahead, depending on how tangy you would like them.  I have eaten them after only 24 hours and they are very good.  Serve these with a teaspoon or so of the brine poured over the egg and a nice piece of toasted whole grain bread for your Easter Breakfast.  These eggs are a wonderful addition to salads, especially a Nicoise Salad.

You may or may not need all of this brine, it all depends on the size of your eggs and the jar.  I used a wonderful old Norge one quart canning jar that my friend brought back from a trip she made to Norway.  The 12 small chicken eggs fit perfectly and had more than enough room.

** To make 12 perfect hard boiled eggs.  Use eggs that are not fresh; week old eggs will make better hard boiled eggs and will peel easier.  Place cold eggs in a saucepan with enough room to cover the eggs with water by at least one inch.  Add 1 teaspoon cider vinegar, bring eggs to a boil.  Turn off burner; if using an electric stove remove pan from burner.  Let sit for 20 minutes; drain and run cold water over eggs for a few minutes.  I also like to add ice cubes to the water and let them sit in the pan, until cold, about 30 minutes.  Now you can peel them and make your pickled eggs. They always turn out perfectly this way.