N.C. Pickle Festival announces 2023 recipe contest winners

MOUNT OLIVE — Have a hankering for pickle flavors away from the jar? Then these award-winning recipes might be for you.

The North Carolina Pickle Festival announced the winners of its third annual virtual recipe contest today. Among the four winning entries were recipes for pickle-flavored doughnuts, Salisbury steak, spring rolls and a Bloody Mary.

This year’s event featured 12 entries in appetizer, dessert, main dish and beverage categories.

“We are always amazed at the creativity of people who love to cook and who love Mt. Olive pickles,” said Julie Beck, co-chairperson of the North Carolina Pickle Festival. “It’s so fun to see what contestants come up with, and it’s always great to have a favorite pickle recipe to share with others.”

Michelle Estrada, Family and Consumer Sciences agent for Wayne County Cooperative Extension, coordinated the contest and video recording of the winning recipes.

“We are deeply grateful to Michelle, our friends at Wayne County Cooperative Extension and Wayne County for their efforts in running this contest for us,” Beck said. “This gives the broader public an opportunity to participate in the North Carolina Pickle Festival.”

Two winners, Sapphire Wasson of Angier and Brenda Watts of Gaffney, S.C., are repeat winners for their Appetizer and Main Dish entries, respectively. The other two winners include Eric Cane of Holly Springs for his Mt. Olive Dill Pickle Doughnuts in the Dessert category, and Sylvia Bare of Apex for her Pickled Bloody Mary. Wasson won for her spring rolls recipe and Watts for her Salisbury steak recipe.

The contest required entries to include at least one half-cup of Mt. Olive pickles. Winners received a year’s supply of Mt. Olive pickle products. Videos showing how each recipe was made can be found at www.ncpicklefest.org.

— From the North Carolina Pickle Festival