Found some Quail eggs locally.
Boiled 'em up, let them cool over night, then peeled 'em and put them in pickling brine.
Even after setting over night, they were still very hard to peel.
We ran them under cold water which helped some, but dang! these little things were tough to get shelled.
Now the hard part; Waiting for 30 days, for them to "pickle"
Can't WAIT to try these!
Virgil B.
Someone will probably come by and give you more insight, but, fresh eggs are most always harder to peel than old ones. So you should have some pretty good eggs in four weeks. Or three, or whatever your will power can take!
Yep,
I'm thinking next time, I'll let them set in the fridge for about a week before boiling/pickling them.
These little buggers were hard to hold onto, let alone peel!
Virgil B.
Used to pickle quail eggs by the hundred... put the boiled eggs in straight vinegar overnight and just squeeze gently.
No way does it take 30 days to pickle them, either.
Sitka;
Thanks for the tip on peeling!!!
Also, How long would you let them pickle?
The less time, the better! I'm NOT good at waiting.(GRIN!)
Virgil B.
A couple to 3 heaping tablespoons of salt in your water also makes pealing fresh eggs alot easier.
ronc;
Thanks for the tip on shelling these little buggers!
Am thinking next time I will soak them over night in the fridge with a vinegar solution with lots of salt.
Then peel!
Virgil B.
use the salt in the boiling water, not the vinegar soak. You can easily oversalt them. Standard pickling time is only a few days with quail eggs. They get rubbery which is not a bad thing.
Thanks Sitka!
Will remember the salt in boiling water, Then use the Vinegar for the over night soak.
Heading to the fridge to give one a try! They've been in the brine for over a week.
Virgil B.
The Quail eggs are ready!
They are just a bit "tart" but a nice pickled flavor. Was very pleased that it only took a week for them to "pickle"
Sitka, or anyone else;
Would you share your recipe for pickling eggs?
I've lost my recipe for pickling eggs, and used one my Wife has for pickling Asparagus.
THANKS!!!
Virgil B.
There was along thread here, not long ago, with lots of very good recipes. I do not use a recipe, just throw stuff in the pan...
Thanks, Sitka!
I added more sugar, more like sweet pickle brine. Yum Yum! This helped!
Will check out the old thred.
Virgil B.
Ha!
I read one of my old posts on pickling eggs, and it refreshed my memory!
Going to buy some Wickles pickles for the brine, and re-use it for Quail eggs!
Virgil B.
be careful to keep it acidic enough....bacteria etc.
I add canned pickled beets...pink eggs great.
Is your quail egg source a secret? I'd like to try some.
I raised coturnix quail for a long time for the eggs... very easy birds to deal with.
http://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/Quail-Button-and-Japanese
I found the Quail eggs locally at Market of Choice in south Eugene.
Been back several times and haven't found more.
They come in a 15 pack for about $6.
I pickled 40 eggs and only have a half dozen left!
Gotta get more!!!!!
Virgil B.
No more Quail eggs yet, BUT, I did pick up some Duck eggs!
Boiled them last night and will put them in brine today.
These things are HUGE compared to chicken eggs.
Virgil B.
I have a picture on emulsion of an egg from a Zebra finch, pullet, double yolker, duck egg and goose egg.
Impressive and wish I knew where it is.
Got my duck eggs in brine!
I used;
1-bottle of malt vinegar (12oz?)
2 cups water
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. pickling spice
1 tbsp. powdered onion
4 dried red peppers.
Brought brine to a rolling boil for 10 min.
Then dumped over 9 duck eggs in a quart jar.
Lid sealed good, now I just have to WAIT a few weeks!
These eggs are so big, that 9 was all that would fit in my jar!
Virgil B.