Why Blueberries Are the Best Fruit You've Never Pickled

When we think of pickling, we usually think of using veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and peppers. However, with summer upon us, we found ourselves thinking about fancy pickled berries as a novel way to use all those gorgeous gems that are popping up at the market.

We did a little research and stumbled across a recipe on Saveur by Chef Tyler Nord of No. 7 Sub in New York City, who uses pickled blueberries on some of his sandwiches, usually in combination with pickled red onions.

Why Blueberries Are the Best Fruit You've Never Pickled — The Pirlo from No. 7 Sub features Genoa salami, fried zucchini, fresh mozzarella, and pickled blueberries and onions. *Image by Zach H./Yelp*

This unique condiment is made with a quick pickling base of vinegar, salt, and sugar, and although we love the color of the red onion, we wanted our pickled blueberries to be a bit more versatile. So, adapted from Tyler's recipe, here's how we made our pickled blueberries in the comfort of our own cozy kitchen.

What You Need (Makes About 3 Cups)

1 c. vinegar (we used apple cider)
¼ c. sugar
1 ¾ Tbsp. sea salt
¼ c. water
1 lb. blueberries

Step 1: Whisk Ingredients & Let Dissolve

Whisk the vinegar, sugar, salt, and water in a medium-sized bowl until the sugar and salt dissolve.

Step 2: Add Ingredients to a Container

Add the liquid mixture to a container (or a few, depending upon the size of the container). Then add the blueberries.

Step 3: Refrigerate

Refrigerate your pickled blueberries for eight hours, or overnight, to let the flavors set before using.

Now comes the fun part: using your pickled blueberries for all sorts of unique creations. Because we opted for the simple blueberry base, these can be used to enhance a wide array of food items.

How to Use Your Pickled Blueberries

There are many, many different ways to enjoy these pickled blueberries, and here are just a few options to get your juices flowing:

crostini and sandwiches
fish garnish
cocktails
cheese and crackers
charcuterie boards
salsas
salads
pizzas and flatbreads

Pickled items are so simple to create and are sure to yield delightfully delicious results. We love the idea of pickled fruits, especially these sweet and tart blueberries. We'll be adding them to our dishes for many summer seasons to come.

Have any favorite pickled items you like to make in your own kitchen? Let us know in the comments below!