Description
Pickled bologna brings zesty comfort from Pennsylvania’s hearty culinary traditions, delivering tangy, spicy flavors that dance across your palate. Crisp, vinegary slices make perfect party appetizers or bold sandwich companions you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) bologna, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
Pickling Liquid:
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pickling salt
Herbs, Spices, and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Craft a tangy pickling solution by merging vinegar, water, sugar, and pickling salt in a medium saucepan, heating until ingredients dissolve completely.
- Allow the pickling mixture to cool down to ambient temperature, ensuring a balanced flavor profile.
- Select a pristine, sanitized glass container for layering ingredients with precision and care.
- Strategically arrange bologna slices, alternating with fragrant garlic cloves, sliced onions, and aromatic bay leaf.
- Sprinkle mustard seeds, whole black peppercorns, and optional fiery red pepper flakes throughout the layers to enhance complexity.
- Gently cascade the cooled pickling liquid over the assembled ingredients, guaranteeing every slice is fully immersed in the flavorful brine.
- Secure the jar with a tight-fitting lid, creating an airtight seal to preserve the pickled bologna’s integrity.
- Transfer the jar to the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify for a minimum of 3 days before savoring the tangy, spiced delicacy.
Notes
- Choose high-quality, thick-cut bologna for the best pickling results and richer flavor profile.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or adding additional herbs like dill or thyme for extra complexity.
- Use wide-mouth glass jars to make layering and removing bologna slices easier during serving.
- Pickled bologna stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, developing deeper flavors as it marinates longer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Pickling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 170 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg