Perfect in salads or served on charcuterie and cheese boards, these tart-sweet cherries have a bit of heat and a soft vanilla backnote. Can't stop at one.
Use a cherry pitter or sharp paring knife to remove the pits and stems from the cherries and set aside.
MAKE THE PICKLING BRINE
In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, coriander seed, black peppercorns, red pepper flakes and split vanilla bean. Over medium high heat, stir until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
Remove the vanilla bean and set aside. Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or glass measuring cup and pour the brine and solids through the strainer. Discard the solids. Transfer the brine liquid and vanilla bean back to the saucepan.
Add the pitted cherries to the brine and simmer until tender, another 3-5 minutes.
Transfer the cherries to a glass mason jar. Tuck the vanilla bean into the jar (I used two small jars and I sliced the vanilla bean in half dividing them between the two mason jars.) Fill the jars with the pickling liquid. Let them cool to room temperature, then seal tightly with a lid and refrigerate overnight.
Pickled cherries will last in the sealed jar for up to a month, or can be canned via traditional canning methods for up to a year.