Skip to content

Composition Pickle

A historical recipe from Housekeeping in Old Virginia, by Marion Cabell Tyree (1878).

No ratings yet

A historical recipe

Housekeeping in Old Virginia, by Marion Cabell Tyree (1878). Project Gutenberg eBook #42450.

From an old book: a historical recipe, not current advice. Its methods, additives and storage may be unsafe by today's standards. Its words name: preserving or pickling. Check current food-safety guidance before following this.

United States

Known as an American recipe, with similar versions prepared across other nations.

  • Preserving. Old preserving methods may not make food safe to keep. Use current tested guidance.

Ingredients 12 ingredients

  1. 1 gallon chopped cabbage
  2. ½ gallon green tomatoes
  3. ½ gallon cucumbers
  4. 1 quart onions
  5. 4 tablespoonfuls ground mustard
  6. 2 tablespoonfuls ginger
  7. 1 ounce cloves
  8. 2 ounces turmeric
  9. 2 ounces celery seed
  10. 2 pounds brown sugar
  11. 2 spoonfuls salt
  12. ½ gallon strong vinegar

Possible health benefits

General information, not medical advice.

  1. Cabbage High in vitamin K · High in vitamin C · High in protein · +1

    High in vitamin K · 76 µg per 100 g, 101% of the reference intake per 100 g

    • Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting.
    • Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

    Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It’s important for blood clotting and healthy bones and also has other functions in the body. NIH fact sheet

    High in vitamin C · 37 mg per 100 g, 46% of the reference intake per 100 g

    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage.
    11 more authorised claims
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of gums.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of teeth.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
    • Vitamin C contributes to normal psychological function.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
    • Vitamin C contributes to the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E.
    • Vitamin C increases iron absorption.

    Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. NIH fact sheet

    High in protein · 1.3 g per 100 g, 20% of the energy from protein

    • Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass.
    • Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass.
    • Protein contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

    Source of folate · 43 µg per 100 g, 22% of the reference intake per 100 g

    • Folate contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy.
    • Folate contributes to normal amino acid synthesis.
    • Folate contributes to normal blood formation.
    5 more authorised claims
    • Folate contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism.
    • Folate contributes to normal psychological function.
    • Folate contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
    • Folate contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
    • Folate has a role in the process of cell division.

    Folate is a B-vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. Your body needs folate to make DNA and other genetic material. NIH fact sheet

    Nutrients per 100 g of “Cabbage, raw”, USDA FoodData Central.

  2. Cucumber Source of vitamin K · Source of protein

    Source of vitamin K · 16 µg per 100 g, 22% of the reference intake per 100 g

    • Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting.
    • Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

    Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It’s important for blood clotting and healthy bones and also has other functions in the body. NIH fact sheet

    Source of protein · 0.7 g per 100 g, 17% of the energy from protein

    • Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass.
    • Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass.
    • Protein contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

    Nutrients per 100 g of “Cucumber, with peel, raw”, USDA FoodData Central.

Claims: EU Register of health claims (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, © European Union, CC BY 4.0), shown only where the ingredient meets the claim's conditions (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). Nutrients: USDA FoodData Central (CC0). Facts: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (public domain).

Cook safely

Keep children and pets away from the hob and the oven, and keep oven gloves and a lid within reach.

  • Boiling water and steam. Turn pan handles inward, away from the edge of the hob. Lift lids away from you, and pour hot water away from your body: steam burns too.
  • Sharp knives. Cut on a board that doesn't slip (a damp cloth under it helps), and curl the fingers of the hand that holds the food.

Method

  1. 1 gallon chopped cabbage.
  2. ½ gallon green tomatoes, sliced.
  3. ½ gallon cucumbers.
  4. 1 quart onions.
  5. all finely chopped.
  6. Let them stew several hours, then drain off the water.
  7. Add: 4 tablespoonfuls ground mustard.
  8. 2 tablespoonfuls ginger.
  9. 1 ounce cloves.
  10. 2 ounces turmeric.
  11. 2 ounces celery seed.
  12. 2 pounds brown sugar.
  13. 2 spoonfuls salt.
  14. ½ gallon strong vinegar;
  15. boil twenty minutes.--Mrs.
  16. C.
  17. C.

Plating

Cookware for this recipe

  • Saucepan
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board
  • Colander
Source Public domain in the USA
Credit

From Housekeeping in Old Virginia, by Marion Cabell Tyree (1878). Digitised by Project Gutenberg, eBook #42450 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42450). Public domain in the USA; its status may differ elsewhere.

What was changed: As printed, from the book's text; Project Gutenberg's header and licence removed. Ingredient lines were read out of the text by a program. A historical recipe, not current advice.