Best 3 Zuni Cafés Zucchini Pickles Recipes

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Zuni Café's Zucchini Pickles are a delectable culinary creation originating from the renowned Zuni Café in San Francisco, California. These pickles have captivated taste buds with their unique combination of sweet, sour, and savory flavors, earning them a dedicated following among food enthusiasts and culinary adventurers alike. Preserving the essence of summer's bounty, these pickles showcase the beauty of zucchini, transforming them into a versatile condiment that elevates everything from sandwiches to salads and cheese platters. In this article, we embark on a delightful journey to discover the best recipe for Zuni Café's Zucchini Pickles, delving into the secrets behind their extraordinary taste and unmatched reputation.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

JUDY'S ZUCCHINI PICKLES



Judy's Zucchini Pickles image

These pickles make a great accompaniment to the famous Zuni Hamburgers served at the Zuni Caf; in San Francisco. The restaurant's chef and owner, Judy Rodgers, shared the recipe with us.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Vegetables     Zucchini Recipes

Yield Makes about 2 pints

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 pound zucchini, washed, trimmed, and very thinly sliced
1 medium yellow onion, very thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fine sea salt
2 cups apple-cider vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons slightly crushed yellow mustard seeds
Scant 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Steps:

  • Combine zucchini and onion in a large shallow bowl. Add salt; toss to combine. Add a few ice cubes and enough cold water to cover, stirring until salt dissolves. Let stand, at room temperature, until zucchini are slightly salty and softened, about 1 hour.
  • Drain, removing any remaining ice cubes. Dry thoroughly between two towels, or spin, a few handfuls at a time, in a salad spinner (excess water will thin the flavor and spoil the pickle). Rinse and dry the bowl. Return the zucchini and onion to the dry bowl.
  • In a saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar, dry mustard, mustard seeds, and turmeric, over medium heat; simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand until just warm to the touch.
  • Pour the cooled brine over the zucchin-and-onion mixture, stirring to combine. Transfer to sterilized jars. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days before serving. Will keep for about 3 months, refrigerated, in an airtight container.

ZUNI CAFé ZUCCHINI PICKLES



Zuni Café Zucchini Pickles image

Refrigerator pickles for some of the zucchini bounty I am anticipating from second planting of zukes. Note - this is a REFRIGERATOR pickle recipe - not intended for canning & storing in the pantry. Adapted from Judy Rodgers' "The Zuni Café Cookbook" nabbed from the LA Times Food & Drink Weekly.

Provided by Busters friend

Categories     Vegetable

Time P2DT15m

Yield 3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 lb zucchini
1 small yellow onion
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 cups cider vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds, crushed (yellow & brown)
1 teaspoon turmeric, ground

Steps:

  • Wash and trim the zucchini, then slice them one-sixteenth-inch thick; a mandoline works best. Slice the onion very thin as well.
  • Combine the zucchini and onions in a large but shallow nonreactive bowl, add the salt and toss to distribute. Add a few ice cubes and cold water to cover, then stir to dissolve the salt.
  • After about 1 hour, taste and feel a piece of zucchini -- it should be slightly softened. Drain and pat dry.
  • Combine the vinegar, sugar, dry mustard, mustard seeds and turmeric in a small saucepan and simmer for 3 minutes. Set aside until just warm to the touch. (If the brine is too hot, it will cook the vegetables and make the pickles soft instead of crisp.).
  • Return the zucchini to a dry bowl and pour over the cooled brine. Stir to distribute the spices. Transfer the pickle to jars, preferably ones that have "shoulders" to hold the zucchini and onions beneath the surface of the brine. Seal tightly and refrigerate for at least a day before serving to allow the flavors to mellow and permeate the zucchini, turning them a brilliant chartreuse color.

ZUNI CAFé'S RED ONION PICKLES



Zuni Café's Red Onion Pickles image

At San Francisco's Zuni Café, these crisp, bright pink onion rings are served with the hamburger, but they are also delicious paired with charcuterie, pâtés, cheese platters and smoked fish. Easy to make and wonderful to have on hand, the pickles keep indefinitely in the refrigerator.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     pickles

Time 1h

Yield 2 pints

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick, broken
A few cloves
A few allspice berries
1 dried red chile
1 star anise pod (optional)
2 bay leaves
A few black peppercorns
1 pound firm red onions (about 2 medium)

Steps:

  • Make the brine: Combine vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice berries, chile, star anise, bay leaves and peppercorns in a 4-quart (or larger) nonreactive pot at least 10 inches in diameter. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Cover pot, turn off heat and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
  • Peel the onions, trim ends and slice crosswise into 3/8-inch thick slices. Separate into rings, discarding any green centers or leathery outer rings.
  • Bring the brine back to a boil. Add onions and turn off heat. Stir with a wooden spoon to submerge onions. Leave to steep, covered, until mixture cools.
  • Transfer onions and brine to pint jars and refrigerate for at least a day before serving.

Tips:

  • Choose the right zucchini. Smaller, younger zucchini are best for pickling. They should be firm and free of blemishes.
  • Slice the zucchini evenly. This will help them pickle evenly.
  • Use a variety of spices and herbs. This will give your pickles a complex flavor. Some good options include garlic, dill, mustard seeds, and peppercorns.
  • Make sure the brine solution is strong enough. A good rule of thumb is to use 1 cup of vinegar, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of salt for every quart of water.
  • Let the pickles cool completely before serving. This will help them to develop their full flavor.

Conclusion:

Zucchini pickles are a delicious and easy way to preserve this summer squash. They can be enjoyed as a snack, on sandwiches, or as a side dish. With a little planning and effort, you can make your own delicious batch of zucchini pickles at home. So next time you have a glut of zucchini, be sure to give this recipe a try!

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