For the holidays that keep on giving, gift a jar of pickles - a keepsake of a season past and a moment of friendship remembered *cuecheesysoundtrack*.
For the super organised, we've got pickles to get started on so they're ready to use by the time the holidays roll in - some will need to be laid down for longer, ready for when the next celebration comes around.
Don't worry, for the super unorganised, we've got no-wait, eat-now pickles, too, to save your skin.
Some of these may need at least 6 months or more to mature (plan ahead for birthdays, parties or even Christmas!) - so gift them to those you know you'll still be friends with, so you can partake in the spoils. #justsaying
Kicking their next antipasto into super-drive - these sweet-tart morsels are made for cured meats, terrines and patés.
Tell them you love them by gifting them with the *most expensive citrus that they can eat all year round!
*Okay, maybe we’re exaggerating, but have you seen the prices of lime lately?
Indian-style salted lime pickles Source: Not Just Jam
You're feeling smug cos you've got 3-4 weeks - timed perfectly for these pickles to be ready for the holidays
Pickled fruit may be a curiosity but the acidity from vinegar offsets the fruit's sweetness, in this instance, grapes - perfectly, says pickle master, . Great on a cheese plate or upgrade your next dirty martini.
Your mate will thank you post-Christmas Day when ham toasties and turkey sambos will be doing the rounds.
Bread and butter cucumber pickles Source: Alan Benson
For the friendship that needs the soft touch: Mexicans make a lovely, fruity-tasting pickle, usually with gentle notes from pineapple vinegar or cane sugar vinegar - we've used apple cider vinegar in this recipe.
Pickled jalapeño chillies
It's only 1 week to Christmas! We've got your back with these gifts
An ideal gift for frenemies - to soften the blow every time you tell them to go suck an egg.
These sweet and spicy pickles are fantastic for a barbecue celebration.
Pickles from the Iranian town of the same name - go one step further and gift with a bottle of wine (may we suggest Shiraz?) to really say you care.
For BFFs only - you need to stir these daily. One week of work means you can give them 3 weeks of joy!
For that friend who you really want to 'blow their socks off'.
Perfect for those who like tentacles (the tastiest bit), or those who like Davy Jones cosplay.
Source: Gourmet Farmer Afloat
So you've really left your gift-choosing to the final hour...
You're at the 7-Eleven - it's either a Bic biro ... or a red onion. Choose the onion and make these ready-in-30-minute taqueria pickles.
Fresh and tangy, these pickles make a great accompaniment for a barbecue to balance the rich, charred flavour of grilled meats and seafood. You'll need to prepare the pickles a couple of days ahead, but they'll take less than 10 minutes to put together.
Barbecue pickles Source: Kitti Gould
You don't live near a 7-Eleven? ... But you've got some wrinkly week-old eggplants or zucchini at the bottom of your crisper? PERFECT! Roast them, pickle 'em, tie a tinsel around it, and give yourself a pat on the back.
Roasted pickled eggplant Source: Murdoch Books / Alan Benson
