be a believer: pickled prunes with orange zest

Lately, I’ve been on a pickling kick and I currently have in my fridge batches of homemade pickled carrots, pickled red grapes and these lovely pickled prunes. I first discovered the joys of “quickles” years ago when I was unemployed and I discovered a book called “The Joy of Pickling” at the local library. That summer, I pickled cucumbers, green grapes, carrot sticks, green beans and red onions. The thing is that I never actually canned anything…all my pickles were either refrigerator or freezer pickles. It’s easy and the results are almost instant. It’s my kind of work!

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about pickling and almost everywhere I turn, someone is pickling red grapes (Thanks Molly for the inspiration!) So of course, I pickled some red grapes too (delicious) but I also tried my hand at the lowly prune. The prune doesn’t get much respect. It’s associated with the elderly and bodily functions most people don’t mention in polite company, but really, prunes can be quite plump, sweet and tasty. And these prunes prove it. They go well with meats, tucked into a sandwich, or picked at on a buffet table.

These pretties were served at my birthday and they were popular. People went back for seconds and thirds and they immediately stopped dissing the prune. Become a believer, give the prune its due. Oh and on a completely unrelated topic, please stop by The Food Network Canada blog and check out my post on Bandidas Taqueria here in Vancouver.

21 comments to “be a believer: pickled prunes with orange zest”

  1. 1
    Dawn   May 12, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    that does sound like something I would love.
    you know what else sounds good? prune chutney…I’ve had that in my mind for a while.

  2. 2
    eatme_delicious   May 12, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try making pickled something! Honestly I’m a bit scared of the pickled prunes but I thought that about pickled asparagus and love them now so I’d give them a chance!

  3. 3
    megan   May 12, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    this is so up my alley! i would have never thought of it, but i really can’t wait to try it.

  4. 4
    Brilynn   May 12, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    I’m a prune supporter, this sounds great!

  5. 5
    jodye   May 12, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    How unique! This looks delicious!

  6. 6
    Bijoux   May 12, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    I always have prunes on hand. You know, for those moments when (…) I’m trying to be polite here 🙂 Anyway, I love pickled beets and gherkins and pickled onions…so I bet I will love these pickled prunes. Something tells me I will soon develop an addiction to these.

  7. 7
    Kasey   May 12, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    I love this! I totally think that prunes have developed an undeserved bad reputation. This sounds fabulous. I’m also wanting to try Molly’s pickled grapes…

  8. 8
    hag   May 13, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    I love the idea of quick and easy…and pickled prunes…who woulda thunk it?
    I will have to check out that place on Commercial Drive that you blogged about….sounds great. I like unpretentious…. does it get busy?

  9. 9
    JC   May 13, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I didn’t think I would ever say it but, “Those prunes look good!”

  10. 10
    Maggie   May 14, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    “Quickles” is the cutest word ever. And I would believe that these are delicious…prunes can be luscious!

  11. 11
    Hayley   May 15, 2009 at 11:29 am

    These sound really tasty. Thanks for the idea!

  12. 12
    Jess   May 15, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Picklicious! It’s about time I get pickling myself.

  13. 13
    laura   May 15, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Humm, I have a big bowl of plums at home just asking to be pickled. I’d better get to it!

  14. 14
    CookiePie   May 16, 2009 at 6:37 am

    DUDE, we have been dying to do some pickling at our place (after buying some fantastic spicy pickles at the Brooklyn Flea) — and I love the idea of pickled prunes! Inspiring!

  15. 15
    Bijoux   May 18, 2009 at 6:42 am

    I made these the other day and boy oh boy are they ever incredibly delicious! I never imagined prunes could be so versatile!

  16. 16
    kickpleat   May 18, 2009 at 11:53 am

    Dawn, prune chutney sounds amazing!

    eatme, give it a chance! they’re not traditionally pickled….more like a whole fruit chutney!

    megan, let me know how it goes!

    i agree, kasey. as for the grapes, so good!

    rah rah prunes!! yay, brilynn!

    thanks jodye!

    bijoux, i think you’ll love them!

    hag, i’ve always had luck finding a table but i’m sure it will be a hopping place soon as the word gets out!

    say it, jc 🙂

    haha, i agree too, maggie!

    hayley, they are pretty tasty! try them out.

    jess, let’s hop on the pickling bandwagon together!

    get to it, laura!

    cookiepie, i can’t wait to see what you end up pickling!

    bijoux, so glad you tried them out! yay!!

  17. 17
    Lydia   May 19, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    I really want to make these, especially with my bag of disappointing Costco prunes wasting away, but I feel lazy about getting all those spices I might never use again.

  18. 18
    Pierre Lamielle   May 21, 2009 at 7:03 am

    Prunes are the best! … and I’m under 30. They are a big part of Provencal cooking and they are delicious…especially with orange.
    Tis the season for the quickie pickle, I’ve got shredded red onion, carrot ribbons, cauliflower and sliced cucumber going right now… but I never in a million years would have thought to pickle prunes, you’re genius!

  19. 19
    kickpleat   May 21, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Lydia, just use spices you already have, like cinnamon, cloves. Or buy the spices and you’ll always have lots of chai tea!

    Pierre, hooray for quickie pickles!

  20. 20
    The Spice Doc   June 13, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    YUM!!!! Love the pickled prune recipe, thank you.

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