'Sichuan Paocai' Sichuan Pickles

• Brine
• The ratio between water and salt- kg water: 1 Tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Sichuan Pepper
• 1 piece star anise
• 2 pieces peeled garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons white liquor ( 40%-60% proof, i.e. Vodka)
• 2 tablespoons brine from 'pickled green chill' You can get this from your local Chinese grocery store. This brine actually works as master brine as well as a fermentation efficacy enhancer.
• Traditionally Chinese make their own master brain by boiling water and salt at the same ratio as above and let the salted water sit in the pickle jar for at least 1 week.
• Vegetables
• 1/4 round cabbage, cut it into pieces about 1 inch square
• 1/4 Chinese radish peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut thinly on the diagonal
• 1/4 kohlrabi, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2-3 red radishes
• 2-3 whole green and red chillies

1. Wash the vegetables and pat them dry. Let them air dry for a couple of hours. Make sure there is no water residual on any piece of your vegetable. Treat your pickle jar in the same way. Neither fresh water nor any oil goes into the pickles are critical factors for making a successful Sichuan Pickles.
2. Boiled the salt and water together to dissolve the salt, let the salted water cool down to room temperature.
3. Pack the vegetables into the jar layer by layer and press them firmly, pour the salted water and add rest of the above brine ingredients to the jar make sure the brine fully covers the vegetable and filled right up to the top edge of your jar.
4. Put lid on the jar, wrap the top with cling film and place the jar on a plate (There will be overflow from the jar at initial fermentation stage).
5. Keep it on a cool and dry place. Your Sichuan pickles will be ready in between 1-2 weeks depends on seasons and temperatures.
6. Serve the pickles directly from the jar by adding some chill oil or extra virgin Oliver oil as you like.
7. Tipsrntlease note it is normal that the brine turn into unclear after first several days. It will dissolve as the pickles continue to ferment.rntse clean chopsticks or tongs to take the pickles from the jar to avoid contamination to the brine. rnthen you notice the pickles sink back to the bottom your jar, it indicates that your Sichuan Pickles are ready and move your jar into fridge. rnton't throw away the rest of the brine; it is your own master brine from now on.

brine, water, sichuan pepper, star anise, garlic, white liquor, brine, water, vegetables, cabbage, chinese, carrot, red radishes

Taken from food52.com/recipes/37287-sichuan-paocai-sichuan-pickles (may not work)