Piccalilli facts for kids
Mustard piccalilli
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| Place of origin | Britain |
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| Main ingredients | pickled vegetables and spices |
Piccalilli, also called mustard pickle, is a tasty British relish. It's like a British version of South Asian pickles. This relish is made from chopped vegetables that have been pickled. It also has many spices. Different places have their own special recipes for it.
Contents
What is Piccalilli?
Piccalilli is a type of relish. A relish is a cooked and pickled food. It is usually made of chopped vegetables. Relishes are often used as a side dish or a topping for other foods. Piccalilli is known for its bright yellow color. This color comes from a spice called turmeric.
Where Did the Name "Piccalilli" Come From?
The word "Piccalilli" has been around for a long time. The Oxford English Dictionary found the word in the mid-1700s. In 1758, a cook named Hannah Glasse wrote about how to make "Paco-Lilla, or India Pickle."
Even earlier, around 1694, a book called Anne Blencowe's Receipt Book mentioned "To Pickle Lila, an Indian Pickle." The spelling "Piccalilli" became more common later. It appeared in a newspaper called The Times in 1799.
Types of Piccalilli Around the World
Piccalilli is popular in many countries. Each place often has its own unique way of making it.
British Piccalilli
British piccalilli usually has different vegetables. These often include cauliflower, onion, and gherkin (small pickled cucumbers). It is seasoned with mustard and turmeric.
You can also find a finely chopped version. This is called "sandwich piccalilli." People use piccalilli with many foods. It goes well with sausages, bacon, eggs, and cheese. It's also popular with cold meats like ham. Many people enjoy it with a ploughman's lunch. Piccalilli is made by companies and also by people at home. It's a traditional food often sold at local markets.
Cypriot Piccalilli
In Cyprus, they have a version of piccalilli that is not sweet. It is different from the British kind. It does not have small onions. The mustard sauce is milder. It also has pieces of carrot. In Cyprus, piccalilli is called pikla in Greek. It is called bikla in Turkish. People serve it as a condiment (a sauce or spice for food). Sometimes, it is part of a meze dish.
American Piccalilli
Piccalilli in the United States comes in different styles.
Northeastern United States
In the Northeastern United States, piccalilli is often made with sweet peppers or green tomatoes. This type is similar to sweet pepper relish. It can be dark red or green. The vegetable pieces are larger. It is also a bit sweeter than British piccalilli. People often put it on hamburgers and hot dogs. You can also find the traditional yellow British-style piccalilli there.
Midwestern United States
In the Midwestern United States, piccalilli is usually made from finely chopped gherkins. It is bright green and sweet. This style is sometimes called "neon relish." It is a popular topping for Chicago-style hot dogs.
Southern United States
Piccalilli is not very common in the Southern United States. Instead, people often eat chow-chow. Chow-chow is a relish made from chopped green (unripe) tomatoes. It can also have onions, bell peppers, cabbage, and green beans. While not exactly the same, chow-chow is often called piccalilli in this region.
Western United States
In the Western United States, piccalilli is not commonly found.
Surinamese Piccalilli
A much spicier type of piccalilli comes from Suriname. Suriname used to be a Dutch colony. This piccalilli mixes traditional British piccalilli with a spicy sambal. The sambal is made from garlic and yellow Madame Jeanette peppers. Surinamese piccalilli is often made at home. You can also buy it in jars in Dutch shops. It looks like regular piccalilli, but it tastes much spicier!
See also
In Spanish: Piccalilli para niños
