You’ll love this pickled blueberries recipe. It’s so easy and such a great way to preserve the season.
This recipe is a few years old but I loved it so much I wanted to share it again for blueberry season.
Although I’m no longer with Dave (who’s in the video) one of the great things I learned from him is that pickles aren’t limited to green beans and cucumbers.
I’ve also made pickled rhubarb and pickled ramps.
It’s blueberry season so while there are plenty of blueberry recipes for cakes, pies and muffins I wanted to share how to make fridge pickle blueberries.
I just don’t have a sweet tooth and so the idea of making blueberry jam or other preserves isn’t appealing.
But what I love about pickled blueberries is that it’s perfect with savoury foods.
It’s amazing with a pork hock terrine, or frankly alongside pork chops.
Instead of tasting like a syrupy jam, pickled blueberries are tart and fresh.
I don’t know why more people are pickling fruit as it’s so easy for even a beginner cook.
Check out this pickled blueberries recipe with BC high-bush blueberries.
Are Blueberries Healthy?
Blueberries may be one of the world’s healthiest foods, while they are small they are packed with antioxidants: vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper, selenium, zinc and iron.
I grew up eating blueberries in the summer.
In Nova Scotia they are cheap and plentiful and it’s one of my favourite times of year, really only second to strawberry season.
When Is Blueberry Season?
Late-July through September is blueberry season. You may find blueberries at the supermarket sooner but they are most often from the US shipped in.
We prefer to wait a couple extra weeks for Canadian growers, Ontario doesn’t really produce a lot of blueberries but British Colombia produces the majority in Canada.
My home province of Nova Scotia also has incredible blueberries a few weeks after British Colombia.
Pickled Blueberries Recipe
Growing up I had never had pickled fruit. I love how pickling makes them a bit tart and you can pair them with fish, pork and any cheese plate.
It’s one of the most versatile blueberry recipes I’ve seen. I love how it pairs with savory food.
It’s also fun to serve because pickled fruit is unexpected.
Pickled fruit is also great in the fall and winter with stews when fresh fruit is so far away.
Don’t even bother contemplating buying the tasteless berries shipped from California even though you know they are flavourless.
This pickled blueberry recipe is a quick pickle and will keep in the fridge for a few months.
If you want, you can preserve them in a hot water bath to last through the winter months.
How to Use Pickled Blueberries
Pickled blueberries are a great condiment as they are both sweet and tart.
- With nearly any pork dish as a side
- On a turkey sandwich
- Added to warm goat cheese to spread on crackers
- As a pizza topping
- Add a few to sparkling water
- Over grilled chicken
- On a charcuterie plate with cured meats and cheese
- Over vanilla ice cream
- In cocktails
- In a spinach salad
- Straight out of the jar!
Pickled Blueberries
This pickled blueberries recipe is so easy to make and brings out the great fruit flavours of summer.
Ingredients
- 1 lb blueberries
- 2 cups cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 black peppercorns
- 2 juniper berries
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1 tsp wild ginger, can substitute regular fresh ginger
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except blueberries into heavy bottomed pot and bring to a boil.
- Add blueberries and return to a boil.
- Pour into sterilized mason jar. Keeps for a few months in jar in a fridge. If preferred you can preserve it in a hot water bath.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 103Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 320mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 0gNutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although BaconisMagic.ca attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
What’s your favourite thing to pickle?
This post was sponsored by BC Blueberries and has been one of our favourite partnerships as I love blueberries!
Tried the recipe!!!Guess what? Tastes Great. Me n my wife enjoyed it every bit of it. This was my first time, following someone else’s recipe to make my wife happy. It worked very well. Only thing that bothers me is, it didn’t look so perfect as shown in the pic!! hahaha
This Pickled Blueberry tastes really nice, with all sorts of tastes amalgamated, but yes after having too much of that i was unable to feel my Tongue. LOL !!!
Nice—this recipe looks so flavorful and versatile, but still simple to make. Just my kind of recipe! Thanks for sharing.
I’m adding this to my Yum board. I’ve never heard of pickled blueberries before. I can’t imagine what they’d be like, but I’m very intrigued.
I’ve never heard of Wild Ginger, where would I buy it?
If you go to a farmers market and there is a wild foods booth they should have it or be able to bring some in for you. It grows throughout the spring and summer on forest floors, often next to ramps.
Very interested in seeing how the flavor of the blueberries changes after pickling them. I’ve never personally seen or tasted pickled blueberries but I love pickled fruit and veggies so it definitely seems like something I’d love to tackle! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
I think you’ll love it, it really preserves the sweet and tart flavours.
Is the sugar necessary?
Thanks
No you can omit it if you like.
I’ve never tried pickled fruits but would love to try this out with cheese!
Wow! lip smacking recipe…will try it for sure.
There are tons of blueberries in southwestern Ontario……farmers all around London and Chatham are putting in more and more!
I am going to make this recipe this weekend. I have lots of blueberries already in the freezer. Can i use frozen ones
I am making this recipe on the weekend. Can I use frozen blueberries?
I’ve never made them from frozen before. I would thaw them first. They won’t retain the same form as fresh ones would but the texture should still be good.
Great recipe and easy method to preserve our summer blue berries!
I loved this recipe so much . It’s really awesome
SO thrilled to hear this.
Does your picture show a star anise in the mix? Or is that something else?
Yes it does! If you like star anise you can throw a couple in as well.