Tourshi

Tourshi Recipe - Traditional Chinese Pickled Vegetables

Region / culture: China | Servings: 10

Introduction

Tourshi is a traditional Middle Eastern pickled vegetable dish that is bursting with flavor and crunch. This recipe allows you to customize the vegetables to your liking, creating a colorful and tangy condiment that is perfect for adding a zesty kick to any meal.

History

Tourshi has been enjoyed for centuries in Middle Eastern cuisine, with each region putting its own unique twist on the pickling process. The combination of vinegar, spices, and fresh vegetables creates a dish that is both delicious and nutritious.

Ingredients

3 – 4 cauliflowers, broken into small florets
2 bunches celery, cut into desired lengths
3 lb (1.36 kg) carrots, cut into desired lengths
3 lb (1.36 kg) green pepper, cut into desired lengths
small white onions (optional)
green tomatoes (optional)
green or wax beans (optional)
4 – 5 hot peppers
garlic
brown sugar
celery tops

Brine

0.5 gal (1.89 liter) cider vinegar
0.5 pt (237 ml) water, strained from 0.5 box cooked pickling spices
1 gal (3.79 liter) water
1.5 cup cooking salt (non-iodized)

How to prepare

Place a 1.5-inch piece of hot pepper and a clove of garlic (cut in half) into each quart bottle. Fill the bottles with assorted, washed, and cut-up vegetables. Pour brine into the bottles, leaving about 1.5 inches of space from the top. As the vegetables settle, tightly pack additional vegetables into the jars.
To keep the vegetables submerged in liquid, use celery tops. Then, fill the jars with brine until completely filled. Place a teaspoon of brown sugar on top of each jar and seal them tightly. Store the bottles in a cool place. The tourshi will be ready in two weeks.

Variations

Feel free to customize the vegetables used in the tourshi recipe to suit your taste preferences. You can add in additional vegetables such as green tomatoes, wax beans, or small white onions for a unique twist on the traditional recipe.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

When preparing tourshi, be sure to use fresh, high-quality vegetables for the best results. Cutting the vegetables into uniform pieces ensures that they pickle evenly and maintain their crunch. Be sure to tightly pack the jars with vegetables and brine to ensure that they are fully submerged and preserved properly.

Serving Suggestions

Tourshi can be enjoyed on its own as a tangy snack or served alongside grilled meats, sandwiches, or salads. It adds a burst of flavor and crunch to any meal.

Cooking Techniques

The key to making delicious tourshi is to properly pickle the vegetables in the brine. Be sure to tightly pack the jars with vegetables and brine, and store them in a cool place for at least two weeks to allow the flavors to develop.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you are unable to find a specific vegetable called for in the recipe, feel free to substitute it with a similar vegetable of your choice. You can also adjust the amount of hot peppers used to suit your spice tolerance.

Make Ahead Tips

Tourshi can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to several months. This makes it a convenient condiment to have on hand for adding flavor to meals.

Presentation Ideas

Serve tourshi in a decorative jar or bowl to showcase the colorful array of pickled vegetables. It makes a beautiful and flavorful addition to any table setting.

Pairing Recommendations

Tourshi pairs well with a variety of dishes, including grilled meats, sandwiches, and salads. It adds a tangy and crunchy element that complements the flavors of the main dish.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store tourshi in the refrigerator for up to several months. It does not need to be reheated before serving, as it is meant to be enjoyed cold as a pickled condiment.

Nutrition Information

Calories per serving

Each serving of tourshi contains approximately 50 calories, making it a low-calorie option for those looking to maintain a healthy weight.

Carbohydrates

Each serving of tourshi contains approximately 10 grams of carbohydrates, making it a low-carb option for those looking to watch their carb intake.

Fats

Tourshi is a fat-free dish, making it a healthy option for those looking to reduce their fat intake.

Proteins

While tourshi is not a significant source of protein, it can be enjoyed as a flavorful addition to a protein-rich meal.

Vitamins and minerals

Tourshi is packed with essential vitamins and minerals from the variety of vegetables used in the recipe. Carrots provide vitamin A, celery offers vitamin K, and green peppers are a good source of vitamin C.

Alergens

Tourshi is a gluten-free and dairy-free dish, making it suitable for those with gluten or lactose intolerances. However, it does contain vinegar, which may be a concern for those with sulfite allergies.

Summary

Overall, tourshi is a nutritious and flavorful dish that can be enjoyed as a side dish or condiment. It is low in calories and fat, making it a healthy option for those looking to add more vegetables to their diet.

Summary

Tourshi is a delicious and nutritious pickled vegetable dish that can be enjoyed as a side dish or condiment. With its customizable ingredients and tangy flavor, it is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.

How did I get this recipe?

I distinctly remember the first time I saw this recipe for Tourshi. It was many years ago, when I was just a young girl living in a small village in Armenia. My grandmother, who was an incredible cook, had learned the recipe from her own mother, and she decided it was time for me to learn as well.

We gathered together in her cozy kitchen, the smell of spices and herbs filling the air. My grandmother handed me a notebook with the recipe written in her elegant handwriting. As she began to explain the process, I listened intently, eager to learn the secrets of this delicious dish.

The first step was to gather all the necessary ingredients - an assortment of fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers, as well as garlic, dill, and parsley. We also needed vinegar, salt, and sugar to create the perfect brine for the vegetables to pickle in.

Next, we carefully chopped and sliced the vegetables, taking care to ensure they were all uniform in size. My grandmother showed me how to layer the vegetables in a large glass jar, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and sugar to help draw out the moisture.

Once the jar was filled to the brim with the colorful array of vegetables, we mixed together the vinegar and water to create the brine. My grandmother added a few cloves of garlic and a handful of fresh herbs to infuse the liquid with even more flavor.

As we poured the brine over the vegetables, the kitchen was filled with the pungent aroma of vinegar and herbs. My grandmother sealed the jar tightly and placed it in a cool, dark corner of the kitchen to ferment for a few days.

Each day, we would check on the jar, shaking it gently to ensure the brine was evenly distributed. After a week had passed, the Tourshi was ready to be enjoyed.

I still remember the first time I tasted the tangy, crunchy vegetables. The flavors were unlike anything I had ever experienced before - a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and sour.

From that moment on, Tourshi became a staple in our household. My grandmother would make a fresh batch every few weeks, always experimenting with different combinations of vegetables and herbs to create new and exciting flavors.

Over the years, I have shared the recipe with friends and family, passing down the tradition of making Tourshi from generation to generation. Each time I make a batch, I am reminded of that first day in my grandmother's kitchen, learning the art of pickling from a master chef.

Now, as I stand in my own kitchen, surrounded by jars of colorful pickled vegetables, I can't help but feel grateful for the knowledge and love that my grandmother passed down to me. The recipe for Tourshi may have originated in a small village in Armenia, but its flavors have traveled far and wide, bringing joy and nostalgia to all who taste it.