How do I pickle chili?

[emmawil37]

I have just got given a hugh bag of chilies which I will never get through so I thought I would preserve them by pickling them, any ideas how you do it?

Thanks

Would this help

thanks Lizzie that is helpful. I really like to give pickling a go, but I don't know if I just add vinegar, whether I should add spices, sugar? Whether its best if I cook them 1st, etc? I have never pickled before

emma your best bet is to do a search in google etc. for the info you need.

You can also just stirng the chillies together and dry them to preserve them , they will keep for ages like that.

here you go, for starters

another one

and more

There are lots of ways of doing it - you can literally just wash, halve and deseed the chillies then put them in a sterilised jar and fill with cider or white wine vinegar - use either the chillies or the vinegar in cooking.

If you want more of a 'nibble' type pickled chilli then you probably want a more sophisticated recipe.

I make all my spare chillies into Chilli chutney which is very good indeed:

Chilli Chutney:
250 gr fresh chillies 2 cups white wine vinegar
8 cloves garlic 2 cups white sugar
5cm piece fresh ginger (approx) 3 teaspoons salt

Deseed the chillies (use rubber gloves). Peel the garlic and the ginger. Put chillies, garlic and ginger in a blender or food processor and blend briefly so that they are in small pieces (you may need to add some of the vinegar if using a blender). They should be a 'minced' consistency, NOT a puree.
Then put all of the ingredients in a saucepan and boil gently, uncovered, for about 1 hour. Pour into hot clean jars and seal. Keep for at least 1 month before using.

Chillis dry really easily, too, if you have somewhere warm and dry to leave them. You put them on newspaper or similar and turn them daily. Dried, they can be used in recipes ground up or whole or used to flavour oil. You can also make lovely chilli oil from the fresh chillis for presents if you get some pretty glass bottles and make smart labels, just like making chilli vinegar. It's great for stir-fries or drizzled over pizza. I made flavoured oils for Christmas presents one year and they were v popular (and wonderfully cheap).