Ice Plant ‘Gherkins’
Recipe by Luke Jefford
Probably the closest thing we’ve made from wild ingredients that resembles Nikki’s much loved gherkins. ‘Hottentot fig’ is its most common name (although regarded as racist), so we prefer to call them ‘ice plant’. The leaves themselves are quite astringent raw, but after a little bit of processing they become the most amazing pickle!
Ingredients
250g leaves
Table salt
250g White wine vinegar
100g Honey
100g Caster sugar
1 Pinch chilli flakes
2 Cloves
1 Tsp caraway seeds
Method
Step 1
Bring a pan of water to the boil and place the leave inside for 2 minutes. Strain.
Step 2
Pop in a bowl and toss in a few pinches of table salt. Cover with cold water and leave for 6 hours. Repeat the step 1 & step 2 once more and strain off any excess water.
Step 3
Bring all ingredients to (except the leaves) to a boil and pour the hot pickling liquor over the leaves.
Step 4
Place them into air-tight containers or jars and enjoy!