Veggie Resolution #10: Pickles
I know pickles are usually considered more of a garnish than a vegetable, but since I started with cucumbers from my CSA, I’m totally counting this as a Veggie Resolution! The idea of making my own pickles first crept into my head when I saw this post on my friend Penny’s blog, and it bloomed full force when my CSA pick-up included four pounds of cucumbers last week. That’s a lot of cukes, see for yourself!
Using Penny’s post as a guide, I compiled the supplies and ingredients I needed:
- 4 lbs cucumbers (Penny specified dill pickles, but I’m not sure what these kind were – they still worked!)
- Multiple glass jars (I used 3)
- Fresh dill (enough to drop 3-4 sprigs into each jar)
- Pickling spice (enough to drop about a 2 tsp into each jar)
- Fresh garlic, sliced (enough to drop about 1-3 sliced cloves into each jar)
- 6 cups distilled white vinegar
- 6 cups water
- 4tbsp + 4tsp sea salt
- 4tbsp sugar
The above will vary depend on how many pickles you have and what size jars, of course. For example, I doubled the brine recipe because the jars I got were big. Also, Penny’s recipe calls for mustard seed, which I couldn’t find ANYWHERE in my neighborhood. I coincidentally had trouble finding jars as well (got these from the $1 store) – do people in NYC just not make their own pickles? I don’t know. Aaaanyway – moral of the story, feel free to adjust the above measurements accordingly!
1. First, cut up the pickles into spear or circles and evenly distribute among your jars (first picture)
2. Add the dill, pickling spice, and garlic to each jar:
3. Make the brine! In a large pot, stir together your vinegar, water, sea salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil and make sure the sugar and salt is dissolved into the mixture. Let it boil for about 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
4. Once the brine has cooled a bit, pour into each jar so that the cukes are completely submerged. When safe to cap, cover the jars and refrigerate them!
Penny suggests waiting 72 hours for the pickles to reach their full briny potential. About 48 hours in, I snuck a taste, and they were soooo good! Super sour, tart and crispy. So yum!!
PS This post is my contribution to Food Network’s Summer Fest! Looking for other cucumber recipes? Check out the other participants!
Pinch My Salt: Chilled Cucumber, Kefir and Avocado Soup
What’s Gaby Cooking: Cucumber-Basil Gimlet
In Jennie’s Kitchen: Radish-Cucumber Crostini
Big Girl Small Kitchen: Spicy Cucumber Salad with Shallot, Ginger and Mint
Grecian Kitchen: Summer Cucumber Salad
And Love It Too: Cucumber, Mint and Watermelon Salad
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Cucumbers Coolers with Agave Simple Syrup
Cooking With My Kid: Cucumber Limeade
FN Dish: Summer Fest: Cucumber Recipes
CIA Dropout: Relishing Cucumbers
Healthy Eats: Cool Cucumber Soup
Food for 7 Stages of Life: Cucumber Cherry Salsa
Cooking With Elise: Green Tea Cucumber Pops
Glory Foods: Cucumber and Shrimp Boat
Virtually Vegan Mama: Fire-Roasted Tomato and Cucumber Gazpacho
Food2: When Life Gives You Cucumbers, Make a Cucumber Cocktail
Cooking Channel: Cucumbers Stuffed with Crab-Mango Salad
Recipe Girl: Bread and Butter Pickles
Taste With the Eyes: Spicy Pickled Cucumbers with Wakame and Garlic Blossoms
Virtually Homemade: Cold Thai Cucumber-Mint Soup
Add a Pinch: Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
The Cultural Dish: Ahi Tuna with Cucumber Sauce and Salad
Daily*Dishin: Cool n’ Zesty Cukes: 7 Minute Summer in a Jar
Daydreamer Desserts: Cubanita Margarita
Purple Cook: Cucumber Gazpacho with Indian Flavored Shrimp Relish
Indian Simmer: Cucumber at its Best with Chaat Masala
Sweet Life Bake: Agua de Pepino
The Sensitive Epicure: Tzatziki with Grilled Gluten-Free Pitas and Fresh Cucumbers and Peppers
Zaika Zabardast: Cucumber Gazpacho
A Way to Garden: Cucumber-Growing Q&A and the Best Pickles
Cooking with Books: Summer Fest: Cucumbers
Have you ever made pickles before? What are your favorite add-ins?
YUM! I am definitely going to have to try this soon – pickles are my favorite!
1Yum! I am a huge fan of anything pickled
Where did you get the pickling spice? I’ve never heard of it. Also, try your local Indian market for mustard seeds – they are a huge ingredient in lots of Indian cooking and you can usually get a large bag for cheap!
2The pickling spices were in the spice section of my local grocery store (well, one store had them and the other didn’t). I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but it was the same type of jar that the cinnamon, garlic powder, paprika, etc. is in. Hope that helps! And thanks for the tip on the mustard seed!
3I saw Penny’s post too, both of your pickles are making my mouth water! I feel like I have to try this!
4Call me crazy but I’ve never seen a pickle recipe using garlic… maybe that’s cuz I’m partial to sweet pickles but I should try these!
5There is NOTHING better than a homemade pickle, in my opinion. Yum.
6I love pickles!! I just bought some the other day, but I would love to make my own and you and Snappy make it look so easy!
7Four pounds of cucumbers?!? You’ve got quite the productive CSA there, lady! I’m jealous.
It’s funny: One of the first things I did on my blog was quick-pickle some green beans, but since then I’ve found myself a bit spooked off pickling for some reason. Maybe it’s the result of having to take the Dept. of Health’s food-handler class — they really try to put the fear of G-d in you about botulism! But… pickles are so good, and…
I think it’s time I just stop talking and start pickling! Thanks for the inspiration.
8this is so cool. i’ve never seen homemade pickles but am now tempted to try it.
9We used to make pickled diakon and carrots when I was a kid.
10Love this blog! So glad I found you through the FN Summer Fest! And, THE PICTURES, the one with the dill and pickling spices…love it! made me happy! Can’t wait to try!
11ooh pickles! they look tasty and i love me a crispy pickle!
12I actually just said out loud, “oh my word look at your beautiful pictures!” Love this idea too. My toddler devours pickles every chance she gets so I’ll try these for sure.
On that note, I’d love to toss another recipe into the ring for cucumber week. It’s a kid-friendly recipe from The Food Network Magazine: Chicken with Pickle Sauce.
Best, Charity
13Thank you! Mmm, I’ll have to try this recipe!
14i do love pickles. thanks for all the ideas!
15Love this post and the pic with all the jars all lined up is fab!
16Yes! The best part of summer gardens! I can’t believe how people eat the megamart brand pickles. They will never compare. Thanks for the great post!
1711. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
18I love this recipe – exactly what I was looking for to use up the the last of my Summer Cucumbers; beautiful photos & blog!
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