This fantastic Pickled Marsh Samphire recipe uses ancient hedgerow spices to create a truly sublime pickle.
I’d heard whispers that Marsh Samphire (Salicornia) used to grow around an estuary that is near me. So I went exploring and finally found the hidden beds.
Such is the joy of chasing plants. This pickled marsh samphire recipe was well worth the wait…
Pickled Marsh Samphire Recipe Ingredients
- 300g Marsh Samphire
- 500ml white wine vinegar
- 50g granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp alexanders seeds (or black peppercorns)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
- ½ tsp wild fennel seeds
- ½ tsp celery seed
- 3 jam jars
Pickled Marsh Samphire Recipe Instructions
- Boil spice mix for three minutes, allow to cool then strain.
- Blanch Marsh Samphire for 60 seconds, strain and plunge into cold water, then immediately drain and allow to air dry for 10 minutes.
- Put Marsh Samphire into jars and pour over the cool spiced vinegar and seal with a non-metallic lid or use grease-proof paper to protect the metal lid.
Makes: 3 jam jars
I’m just wondering if you know where I could buy pickled samphire rather than have to pickle myself
Pip the whole point of my site is to go and gather the plants and make the recipes yourself. As a result I have no idea where to buy any from. You can certainly pick up samphire in your local Waitrose!
Luckily, I can buy Samphire from my Greengrocer! This recipe interests me — can you tell me what is meant by ‘Alexander’s Seeds’? No problem with the other ingredients:
Thanks ?
Barbara, Alexanders seeds are from Smyrnium olusatrum, and as far as I know you can’t buy them in a shop, you have to forage for them.
This sounds great – how long does the pickle keep for and does it need to be refrigerated??
Nikki – It’s pickled in vinegar so should last at least a year. It does not need to be refrigerated.
I live on the wirral, banks of River Dee. My samphire or sampkin as we call it can be quite stalky so at the air drying stage I pulled the sampkin off the stalks to make it more palatable. Couldn’t get Alexander seeds (don’t know where near me they grow) otherwise followed recipe. This is a very good recipe and I enjoy the pickled sampkin with homemade potted shrimps and a nice crusty bread roll . Delicious.
Message to Lin above. Lin – I live on the Wirral too. The Wirral Way is full of Alexanders. They start at the entrance of the Wirral Way on Grange Road and they are on both sides. Loads of it!
Where would I buy Alexander seeds from?
No idea. Replace with black peppercorns.
Next stop for me, to find some samphire and pickle it. I do love making a good pickle.. thanks again Robin ??
Hi Shirley and Lin. I live in West Kirby and just collected Samphire this morning from the beach…looking forward to trying this recipe…thanks for the tips on getting the Alexander seed ?