Ingredients

  • 2 cups water, divided
  • 1/3 cup kosher salt
  • 1 lb peeled cipollini onion (or pearl onions)
  • 1 cup sherry wine vinegar
  • 1 cup malt vinegar
  • 1/2 cup cream sherry
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 dried hot red chile
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig

Method

  • Combine 1 1/2 cups water, salt, and onions in a bowl. Cover mixture and refrigerate overnight.
  • Combine 1/2 cup water, sherry vinegar, malt vinegar, cream sherry, brown sugar, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, peppercorns, and red chile in a nonaluminum saucepan, and bring mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove mixture from heat, and let stand 1 hour.
  • Drain onions. Rinse onions and pat them dry. Add onions to the vinegar mixture, and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat, and simmer mixture for 3 minutes. Place onions, bay leaves, and rosemary in hot jars; cover onion mixture with hot vinegar mixture, leaving 1/4-inch head space.
  • Cover jars with metal lids, and screw on the bands. Cool completely. Refrigerate onions at least 1 month before serving.