If youve ever spotted a dish of cornichons on a charcuterie board and didnt know what they were, you might have wondered how those pickles got so small. After all, they look exactly like regular pickled cucumbers, the kind you like to have alongside your ham and cheese sandwiches, only they look like they were put through a shrinking machine. Usually less than two inches long and about a quarter inch in diameter, these adorable little garnishes taste an awful lot like dill pickles, too, only perhaps a bit less tart.
With a mild tang and a satisfying crunch, cornichons are the same pickled veggie that the English refer to as gherkins. They are dubbed “cornichons” by the French and are known as such in America as well. The unique flavor of cornichons makes them a great foil to the super-savory flavors of meat and cheese platters, and anything else that is heavy on the umami. Plus, with their tiny size, they act as an excellent little condiment, not a supersized, sour side dish like those giant pickles found in Jewish delis (which are great with pastrami and corned beef, by the way). Anyone who loves pickles will probably be dill-ighted by the petite size and subtle sourness of the tiny but mighty cornichon.
The French call them cornichons, and they’re sold under the same name in the US, but the English call them gherkins. These delicious little pickles are great on an appetizer plate, chopped up in deviled eggs, and added to sandwiches.
What do cornichons taste like?
Even though cornichons are first cured in salt, they dont take on an overwhelming salty flavor. Once pickled, they are tart, but not super sour. As tiny as they are, cornichons maintain a crisp texture which almost gives them a refreshing quality when combined with their mild tartness. Some describe them as a little sweet but they shouldnt be nearly as sweet as legit sweet pickles. In reality, cornichons will take on the flavors of whatever they are pickled with, whether thats peppercorns, fresh dill, sugar, or other herbs and spices.
Many times, cornichons have a much bumpier skin than regular-sized pickles and their rougher texture complements things like smooth meat patés and salmon rillettes. They are briny, sharp, and cut right through rich and fatty foods to complement what youre eating and cleanse your palate at the same time. Occasionally, youll see jars of cornichons with tiny pearl onions and mustard seeds inside. The pearl onions are also delicious to eat and, if you pick up some mustard seeds with your cornichon, youll get an even more tasty texture.
How are cornichons made?
Cornichons begin with a type of cucumber called gherkin cucumbers. Small, bright green, and bumpy, they remain tiny when they reach full maturity, but are deliberately harvested while young and between one and two inches in length. The pickling process begins with the gherkins being salted overnight to draw out some of their liquid. They are then soaked in vinegar and left overnight again. At this point, the gherkins and liquid are cooked, cooled, and then sealed in jars along with flavorings like herbs and those tiny onions mentioned earlier.
Anyone who cans or makes their own pickles shouldnt have a hard time making their own cornichons, too. As long as the correct type of cucumbers are used, the method is very much like making standard pickles and is pretty straight forward. They can be canned in the hot water bath method for extended storage, or placed right into the refrigerator (without the canning) if youll consume them quicker, and no one will blame you if you do.
French Pickles | Chef Patrick Feury | Tips #shorts
FAQ
What are little pickles called in French?
What are the small pickles in France?
Do they have pickles in France?
What do Europeans call pickles?
What are French pickles?
They are also known as French gherkins, French pickles, or baby pickles. A type of pickled cucumber can be found in many dishes around the world. The small, sour pickles vegetables are often served alongside charcuterie boards and are also an ingredient in many French and other European cuisines.
What is the best pickle juice to buy?
To choose the best pickle juice when buying, you need to read the list of ingredients. Compare this list between different brands and see which has the least artificial ingredients and additives.
What are tiny pickles called?
What are these things, and why are they there, other than as a garnish and the sole representative of the vegetable kingdom? Those pickles are called cornichons (pronounced “KOR-nee-shons”), and they are exactly what they seem to be: tiny pickles, or, as the English call them, gherkins.
Are all Pickles the same?
You may think of all pickles as the same, but if you take a dive into the world of pickling, there will be one specific type of pickle you’ll want to look out for: cornichons. Cornichon pickles are dainty, tasty little pickles that can bring a spark of life to all your appetizers, sides and sandwiches.