Yield: Makes about 5 x 250 ml jars
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Processing Time: 10 Minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate
Toss this pickled garlic into Italian spaghetti sauce, serve it in sandwiches, use as an antipasto or as a garnish for salads. This is a tasty way to add the goodness of garlic to your diet.
INGREDIENTS:
12 large heads garlic, about 1 3/4 lb (838 g)
2 -1/2 (625 ml) cups white vinegar
1 cup (250 ml) dry white wine
1 tbsp (15 ml) pickling salt
1 tbsp (15 ml) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) dried oregano
5 dried whole chili peppers, optional
DIRECTIONS:
• Place 5 clean 250 ml mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180°F/82°C). Set screw bands aside. Heat SNAP LID® sealing discs in hot water, not boiling (180°F/82°C). Keep jars and sealing discs hot until ready to use.
• Separate garlic bulbs into cloves. To soften and loosen skins, blanch garlic cloves in rapidly boiling water 30 seconds; immediately immerse in cold water, drain and peel cloves.
• In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine vinegar, wine, pickling salt, sugar, and oregano. Bring to a boil; boil gently 1 minute; remove from heat. Add peeled garlic cloves to hot vinegar mixture. Stir constantly 1 minute.
• Pack garlic and 1 dried whole chili pepper, if using, into a hot jar to within 3/4 inch (2 cm) of top of jar. Add hot liquid to cover garlic to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of top of jar (headspace). Using nonmetallic utensil, remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if required, by adding hot liquid. Wipe jar rim removing any food residue. Centre hot sealing disc on clean jar rim. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Return filled jar to rack in canner. Repeat for remaining garlic, chili peppers and hot liquid.
• When canner is filled, ensure that all jars are covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. Cover canner and bring water to full rolling boil before starting to count processing time. At altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m), process –boil filled jars – 10 minutes.*
• When processing time is complete, remove canner lid, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars without tilting and place them upright on a protected work surface. Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours; DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands.
• After cooling check jar seals. Sealed discs curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool, dark place. For best quality, use home canned foods within one year.
