Description
Homemade pickled eggs with sausage & onions showcase traditional German preservation techniques. Hearty protein-packed bites deliver tangy flavor and rustic charm for home cooks seeking a classic regional appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 hard boiled eggs, peeled
- 1 lb (450 g) smoked sausage or kielbasa, cooked and sliced into rounds
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cups (480 ml) white vinegar
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 0.5 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp salt
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 tsps black peppercorns
- 23 bay leaves
- 1 tsp mustard seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Preparation: Sterilize a glass jar, arranging hard-boiled eggs, sliced sausage, and onion rings in attractive layers.
- Pickling Solution: In a saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, salt, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, garlic cloves, and bay leaves, bringing to a vigorous boil until sugar dissolves completely.
- Liquid Infusion: Allow pickling mixture to cool slightly, then carefully pour the warm, aromatic brine over the layered ingredients, ensuring complete coverage and saturation.
- Preservation: Seal the jar tightly with a lid, then refrigerate for a minimum of three days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify; for optimal taste development, wait up to one week before consuming.
- Serving: Present the pickled eggs and sausage as a sophisticated appetizer or standalone snack, showcasing the complex interplay of tangy, spicy, and robust flavor profiles.
Notes
- Select Spotless Container: Use a clean, high-quality glass jar to prevent bacterial contamination and maintain the pickled eggs’ visual appeal and flavor integrity.
- Balance Pickling Spices: Adjust red pepper flakes and mustard seeds to control heat level, making the recipe adaptable for mild to spicy preference palates.
- Optimize Flavor Infusion: Allow eggs to marinate for at least 3-7 days in refrigeration, enabling spices to penetrate deeply and develop complex, rich taste profiles.
- Temperature Control: Cool pickling liquid slightly before pouring over ingredients to prevent eggs from becoming rubbery or overcooked during the pickling process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 192
- Sugar: 4.2 g
- Sodium: 678 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.6 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 10.3 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg