cornichon

March 8, 2009
by
1 min read

Cornichons, also known as gherkins, start with a fresh cumber-like vegetable that is then pickled while they are still small. These little guys are served with pates in France or strips of fried fish in other European countries.
They’re basically baby pickles. Cornichons are the French version. They’re more tart and not as salty as regular pickles. Because they’re less salty, the sweetness is a little more pronounced.
The genuine article will be packed with white vinegar, mixed with tiny, peeled silver skin onions and spiced, generally with whole peppercorns and/or mustard seed.
In Jacksonville you can find them at specialty markets such as Olives & Oils, near the corner of Park and King.
If you have the patience to grow gherkins, you can also pickle them at home, a process that is not all that difficult. You’ll find a ton of varying recipes on the internet.
It might be a French classic, but because it is, there’s as much argument over what the “true” technique should be. It’s a bit like Americans and barbecue. We get somewhat passionate over what “real” barbeque should be like, but then we resign ourselves to the differences in regional techniques, though even those can have variations.
The spices in the mix can be almost anything that might hold up to the vinegar. Thyme, cloves, garlic, allspice, coriander and even cinnamon might be part of the spice mix. Even the vinegar base can be something other than white vinegar. Red wine vinegar is sometimes used, although that can discolor the pickle and make for a rather homely pickle. As long as the pickles are tiny and packed with some sort of onion and a variety of spices, they’re still considered cornichons.

Folio is your guide to entertainment and culture around and near Jacksonville, Florida. We cover events, concerts, restaurants, theatre, sports, art, happenings, and all things about living and visiting Jax. Folio serves more than two million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, The Beaches, and Fernandina.

Current Issue

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

Welcome to Rockville 2025
SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
omaha-steaks-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

Irving Berlin's "I Love A Piano"

Next Story

Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando

Latest from Food + Drink

NFAN/Dining Out For Life

Words by Kaili Cochran Before the mid-1990s, having HIV was considered a death sentence but with modern treatment, someone with HIV can have a similar lifespan as someone who is HIV-negative.  Northeast Florida Aids Network is the only organization in Northeast Florida that focuses on HIV. Since its

Folio’s Top Picks: Bite By Bite 

Jacksonville & St Augustine Neighborhoods  Jacksonville Arlington Fuji Sushi  fujisushi-fl.com The Good Place Nutrition   facebook.com/thegoodplacenutrition Grinders American Diner  grindersamdiner.com Seven Wonders Restaurant  7wondersbakery.com Tabouleh Cafe taboulehcafe.com Beaches Angie’s Subs facebook.com/angiessubs Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila Bar flyingiguana.com Hawkers eathawkers.com Southern

Your Guide to Cat Cafes in Northeast Florida

Words by Kaili Cochran People love coffee. Many of them love cats. Imagine if there was a way to combine the two. Cat cafes are nonprofit cat rescues where people can buy coffee drinks often named after felines. (Cattuccino, anyone?) While sipping, patrons can also pet cats.

Gay Bars Today

Words by Ambar Ramirez When one closet door closes, another one opens. While few and far between, our Bold City is still home to several gay bars. And just as the history of such businesses is worth highlighting, it’s important to uplift the ones still standing today. After all, history

The Rise of Non-alcoholic Beverages

Words by Kaili Cochran Since COVID-19, non-alcoholic beverages have become something more commonly seen day-to-day and are only becoming more popular as time goes on. During the recent Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, Michelob Ultra Zero made an appearance in “The ULTRA Hustle” ad that aired during
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Avett Brothers

November 15 The Avett Brothers St. Augustine Amphitheatre (904) 471-1965

Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone “Twitter is the postcards in my head.” It’s