Tangy Quick Pickled Cherry Tomatoes Recipe
This Tangy Quick Pickled Cherry Tomatoes recipe is a vibrant and flavorful way to preserve fresh cherry tomatoes with aromatic garlic, ginger, and basil in a tangy brine of white wine vinegar, sugar, and kosher salt. Perfect as a zesty addition to salads, sandwiches, or charcuterie boards, these pickled tomatoes are easy to prepare and develop the best flavor after a couple of days in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 1 pint jar (approximately 1 serving)
- Category: Pickles & Preserves
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Pickling Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves, cut in half vertically
- 3 small, thin slices fresh ginger (like you'd cut into a coin)
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 pint (about 12 ounces) cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Sterilize Jar: Wash a glass pint jar thoroughly with soapy hot water to remove any contaminants. Rinse well and let it air dry completely to ensure it is sterile and safe for pickling.
- Prepare Jar Contents: Place the garlic halves, fresh ginger slices, black peppercorns, and basil leaves at the bottom of the jar. Optionally, pierce each cherry tomato with a toothpick to help the brine infuse more quickly. Then pack the cherry tomatoes tightly inside the jar.
- Make Brine: In a saucepan, combine the water, white wine vinegar, kosher salt, and granulated sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring continuously until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved, creating a flavorful brine.
- Pour Brine: Carefully pour the hot brine over the cherry tomatoes and aromatics inside the jar, ensuring all ingredients are submerged.
- Cool and Refrigerate: Allow the jar to cool completely uncovered at room temperature. Once cooled, seal the jar with a lid and place it in the refrigerator. Let the tomatoes pickle for at least 2 days before consuming for optimal flavor development. They can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Piercing the cherry tomatoes with a toothpick is optional but speeds up the pickling process by allowing the brine to penetrate the skins more easily.
- Use a clean sterilized glass jar to extend shelf life and prevent contamination.
- These pickled tomatoes add a tangy, aromatic kick to salads, sandwiches, or antipasto platters.
- Store in the refrigerator and consume within 2 months for best taste and safety.
- Adjust sugar and salt levels to taste depending on your preference for sweetness or saltiness.
