# Pickled onions (British food mentioned by James Herriot) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990 "2016-07-27T01:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/1 "2016-07-27T01:09:30Z")
In one of his books (I can’t recall which one,) James Herriot writes about eating roast beef sandwiches and pickled onions at someone else’s house, and he states that the size of the onions were remarkably large; “larger than golf balls.” I’m confused. Aren’t almost \*all \*onions larger than golf balls? Is there a British species/variety that is smaller than golf balls? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/2 "2016-07-27T01:19:33Z")
I assume he was used to having pickled [pearl onions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_onion) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/3 "2016-07-27T01:23:48Z")
Amazon has them and will ship world-wide. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/4 "2016-07-27T01:25:56Z")
Or you can buy them in most supermarkets. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/5 "2016-07-27T02:25:28Z")
They are used in some cocktails too. Gibson? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/6 "2016-07-27T03:55:21Z")
No, pickling onions are a specific variety, much larger than pearl onions but much smaller than regular onions; they’re typically about 2-3 cms in diameter, so one the size of a golf ball would be at the upper range. [Some pickled onions.](https://pigletinportugal.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/pickled-onions.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/7 "2016-07-27T04:00:57Z")
[They’re also dead easy to make, although personally I would omit the chilis - nothing against chilis, they just aren’t needed in pickled onions - and add cloves. I’d also halve the sugar in that recipe.](http://www.otagofarmersmarket.org.nz/recipe/416/OLD-FASHIONED-PICKLED-ONIONS) ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/8 "2016-07-27T04:03:11Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > They are used in some cocktails too. Gibson? The ones you use in cocktails are small, though. Marble sized usually. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/9 "2016-07-27T04:04:57Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > The ones you use in cocktails are small, though. Marble sized usually. Now that would depend on the size of the glass, wouldn’t it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/10 "2016-07-27T09:15:52Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > No, pickling onions are a specific variety, much larger than pearl onions but much smaller than regular onions; Pickled pearl onions are sold in most supermarkets over here. ---
**Author:** ![davey77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/11 "2016-07-27T09:21:50Z")
If you’re referring to the episode I think you are, James was ALSO getting pickled… ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/12 "2016-07-27T20:55:45Z")
Do pickled onions taste like “regular”\* pickles? \*Like Vlasic. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/13 "2016-07-27T21:01:19Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > In one of his books (I can’t recall which one,) James Herriot writes about eating roast beef sandwiches and pickled onions at someone else’s house, and he states that the size of the onions were remarkably large; “larger than golf balls.” > > I’m confused. Aren’t almost \*all \*onions larger than golf balls? Is there a British species/variety that is smaller than golf balls? Can’t help you with the onion thing, but I believe it is in _All Creatures Great and Small_. The other person is Granville Bennett, a large, affable vet who does small animal work. Lives with his wife, Zoe, and his dog, Phoebe, whom he calls, “Phoebles”. Granville insists in plying poor James with liquor, so that every time he meets Zoe, the poor lad is completely tanked. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/14 "2016-07-27T21:09:42Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > Can’t help you with the onion thing, but I believe it is in _All Creatures Great and Small_. The other person is Granville Bennett, a large, affable vet who does small animal work. Lives with his wife, Zoe, and his dog, Phoebe, whom he calls, “Phoebles”. Granville insists in plying poor James with liquor, so that every time he meets Zoe, the poor lad is completely tanked. Yes - Herriot wrote that Bennett even had a drink bar/pub built in his own house’s yard, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/15 "2016-07-27T21:28:20Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Do pickled onions taste like “regular”\* pickles? > > \*Like Vlasic. They taste like onions that are pickled. No dill flavor (at least not the ones I had), but the usual vinegar flavor. You know, like pickled eggs, pickled beets, pickled gizzards (okay, you may not know that one, but it is a thing), pickled jalapenos or pickled peppers of any sort, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/16 "2016-07-27T21:32:58Z")
Ok, thanks. I’ve only ever had the cucumber (mostly dill) kind. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/17 "2016-07-27T21:51:33Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Ok, thanks. I’ve only ever had the cucumber (mostly dill) kind. Well, given your username, just go to a bar and order a gibson, and you’ll get a pickled onion. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/18 "2016-07-28T14:54:01Z")
What and befoul myself with the Satan juice? This body is a temple. It’s Jesus juice, tequila, Mountain Dew or nothing. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-onions-british-food-mentioned-by-james-herriot/760990/19 "2016-07-28T20:26:01Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Now that would depend on the size of the glass, wouldn’t it? 😃 Or Mason jar!