No. 3994 — Mixed Pickles (Piccalilli)
English historical translation of Molokhovets recipe No. 3994 from the 1901 Russian cookbook, retaining original methods and measures.
Select young carrots cut into stars, tiny cucumbers, peeled tender lettuce stalks, cauliflower florets and stems, thinly sliced immature corn, turnip seed pods and nasturtium seeds.
The original also lists small unripe melons and watermelons, green plums, little saffron milk cap mushrooms, asparagus, trimmed purslane stems, peeled small onions, young sugar-pea pods and green beans.
Wipe all the vegetables carefully with a napkin.
The period brine contains 3 glasses salt, ¼ lot saltpetre and 20 grains alum in 5 pounds (10 glasses) water. Boil, remove scum, cool, add the vegetables and bring to the boil once.
Drain and dry, pack into small glass jars and cover with boiled, cooled vinegar.
After two weeks, when the vinegar becomes cloudy, replace it with fresh very strong cold vinegar boiled with tarragon, black pepper, allspice and Turkish pepper.
Tie jars with animal bladder and store in boxes packed with dry sand.