Similar in appearance to a pear or apple, the quince is a pome fruit that is fairly inedible in it’s raw form. Quince must be cooked to reach their full flavor potential. The fruit is hard when it is ripe and unripe, so you must use your nose to gauge ripeness. Bring the tail end (not the stem end) of the quince to your nose. If it smells fresh and floral, it is ripe.
In this recipe for Pickled Quince, slices of peeled quince are simmered in a bath of apple cider vinegar, cane sugar, juniper, black peppercorn and fresh bay leaf. The resulting pickle is incredibly tart and fragrant with a hint of sweet and spice. Pickle Quince would be perfectly at home on any cheese and salami board, or pair well with any rich, fatty meat (especially pork).
Click here for this recipe: http://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2013/12/pickled-quince
