Why I love this pickled eggs recipe
Pickled eggs are everywhere around here. They’re on the back counter at local bars, they’re sold in grocery stores. You can’t live in Wisconsin love without noticing these little guys. But, until this week, I had never tried one.
I have no idea why they are a thing here, but after reading a bit about pickled eggs on the internet, it seems they have been a bar staple for quite some time and there are many different variations of pickled eggs to try.
I decided to go with spicy pickled eggs because I thought the peppery kick of jalapeño would add even more flavor to the final product, and I was right. The eggs really absorbed the flavor of the brine and made a really tasty snack.
Plus, thanks to the fresh herbs and jalapeños, these quick pickled eggs a million times more appealing than the giant jars of eggs behind the bar.
Now I can totally see why they would be a tavern favorite. Not unlike salty peanuts or bar pretzels, a pickled egg is the perfect match for a few pints of beer.
If you really want the full Wisconsin experience, these would be great washed down with a brandy old fashioned.
How to pickle eggs
Hard boil some eggs. Use whichever method you prefer. I don’t typically make them, so I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert. Just get the cooked. You could even buy them already cooked at the grocery store.
Prepare a brine. Heat the vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir the mixture occasionally until the salt and sugar have completely melted. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool completely.
Fill your mason jars. The key to getting your spicy pickled eggs to taste good, is letting them soak in the brine solution with a lot of flavorful stuff, like jalapeños, dill and onion.
I like to arrange add-ins around and in between the eggs. I basically layer the jar until all the eggs are in and it looks like a work of art.
Soak the eggs. Pour the cooled brine over the eggs and fill the jars. Cover the jars and put them in the fridge. Let them soak in the brine for at least 1 week.
Frequently asked questions
While there is no specific date, pickled eggs have been around since the 1800’s and they have been a bar staple since. They have fallen out of fashion since Prohibition, but they are still incredibly popular in dive bars around Wisconsin.
Yes. Since we aren’t using a proper canning technique for this recipe, the eggs will go bad after about 3 – 4 weeks, but I really recommend consuming them within 2 – 3 weeks for the best flavor and texture.
It really depends on how strong you want the pickling flavor to be, but I recommend at least 1 week. The longer they sit the better.
Yes. They are soaked in a vinegar solution to preserve them, and they take on the flavor of that solution as they sit. You can also flavor the brine with other seasonings such dill or pickling spices.
More egg recipes: breakfast tacos / dairy free breakfast casserole / asparagus quiche / Italian egg sandwich recipe
What can I do with spicy pickled eggs?
- Make pickled egg salad
- Make deviled eggs with them
- Put them on a relish tray
- Add them to potato salad
- Add them to your favorite cobb salad recipe
More from The Supper Club Series: blue moon ice cream / how to cook beer brats / wisconsin booyah / pink squirrel / supper club broasted chicken
Spicy Pickled Eggs
Ingredients
- 18 hard boiled eggs
- 3 cups white vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- 1 jalapeño pepper, sliced
- 6 – 8 springs fresh dill
- 4 bay leaves
- 1/2 large white onion, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 – 2 tablespoons pickling spice
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until sugar and salt have dissolved. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool completely.
- Distribute eggs and remaining ingredients between 2 quart-sized mason jars. Top with cooled brine and cover.
- Refrigerate for about 7 – 10 days before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
This is probably a dumb question but I want to be sure—do you peel the boiled eggs? Or put them in with the shell on?
Peel them for sure. There are no dumb questions lol!
These are beautiful!
Does this have a sweet taste to it like sweet relish or is the sugar just to offset the strong vinegar? My husband hates sweet pickle taste so I want to know before I make a whole batch.
No. There isn’t a sweet pickle taste, it just offsets the vinegar.
Thanks so much! Made this and they look amazing! Can’t wait to try them in a week!
Can I still can these still even though your recipe doesn’t call for it?
Hi Nicole! I honestly don’t know. I’m not a canning expert and I know that a lot goes into canning beyond just ingredients, so I don’t feel comfortable telling you that it would be safe. I’m sure you could follow a similar pickled eggs recipe that is canning safe and add in the flavorful ingredients listed here though to achieve the same effect. Let me know if you do try it!
I am looking to can as well, did you end up canning yours????
It is not safe to can pickled eggs, they cannot be safely stored at room temperature even if they are water bath processed! Any reputable source I can find states the only safe storage method is refrigeration to avoid the risk of botulism: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/pickled_eggs.html
I do recommend in the post that these eggs be stored in the refrigerator.
🤦♀️ yolo!
My first time pickling eggs. Can’t wait to open them and try in a week, sooooo easy!
These eggs are amazingly good. Not hot like you’d think, but just the right spice
My brine did not cover my 18 eggs. Is this ok or should I make more bribe to cover?
I would definitely make more. You need them to be submerged.
Depends on how much your willing to pay for your BRIBE.
Good one Gregory.I caught it,lol.
hi, forgive me if already mentioned I tried to find out but when do i put the spices in while boiling brine or when everything cooled and bottling.
I put them in while everything was cooling.
How long do you boil your eggs for ?
Usually about 10 minutes!